Amanda Beard Defends Pal Michael Phelps

Amanda Beard is asking the press to lay off a little on her friend, fellow swimmer and Olympian Michael Phelps.

E! reports that Beard thinks it's "definitely weird" to see Phelps in the tabloids now. Phelps has been seen in Las Vegas on numerous occasions and is also currently dating a cocktail waitress from Vegas, Caroline "Caz" Pal.

Beard told E!, "A swimmer's life is extremely boring. We swim and we're in the pool all day long. I know he trains his butt off, so I know it feels good for him to let loose and drink - and to have ladies underneath his arm."

However, once it comes time to focus on the pool instead of the pretty girls, Beard knows where his loyalties lie.

"He has a really, really, really intense coach who's very strict," she said.

But for now, she hopes Phelps is enjoying his laid back lifestyle.

"It's good for him," Beard said.