Phelps seeks Chinese fans' forgiveness for pot smoking via online video

Washington, Feb 14 (ANI): Golden Olympian Michael Phelps has apologizes to his Chinese fans for the photos showing him smoking pot.

The swimmer, who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, has released an Internet video seeking forgiveness from the Asian country.

"As many of you know, I recently engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and not what people have come to expect from me," Usmagazine.com quoted him as saying in the video.

His apology helped save his relationship with Mazda Motor Corp, for the company agreed to continue sponsoring him.

Phelps signed a seven-figure contract to represent the carmaker in China, which was the biggest deal for a Western celebrity in the nation, Bloomberg reports.

"To the young people of China, please learn a lesson from this," Phelps said in the video.

"Be positive in life, and do the right things. I've had so many great experiences in China over the past few years, and have enjoyed learning about your culture and your history," he added. (ANI)