The 14-time Olympic swimming champion was catching a flight home for a well-deserved holiday break.

Famous now beyond his wildest tadpole dreams, Phelps has been adhering to a grueling schedule of inspirational appearances and wild partying.

He's also touring to promote his new book, No Limits: The Will to Succeed.

The autobiographical read concentrates on Michael's extraordinary achievements at the Beijing Olympics and "shares anecdotes about his family, his coach, his passion for the sport, and lessons learned from unexpected challenges and obstacles."

One obstacle young Phelps never could have expected is the pushy lady in the provocative black top at LAX.

She's even more persistent than the paparazzi!  Eyewitnesses claim that the young woman beelined for Phelps the moment he entered the terminal and stuck with him all the way to the ticket counter.

That's closer than most of the U.S. swimmer's Olympic rivals got.

But the well-rounded brunette should know that Michael is already booked up solid with offers from adoring fans.