New York, January 6 : After winning a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics last year, ace swimmer Michael Phelps has now entered the largest single sponsorship deal for any Western celebrity in Chinese history.

According to reports, Phelps is getting more than one million dollars to be a spokesman for Mazda in China.

Dynamic Marketing Group''s DMG Entertainment unit has revealed that the swimmer will be endorsing the Mazda 6 car in TV and print ads.

Phelps will also be making public appearances as part of the deal to promote the car.

"The people of China have been very supportive of me and my efforts to help promote swimming. I am excited to begin 2009 with my first return trip to Beijing since the Games," the New York Daily News quoted Phelps as saying.

Mazda Motor Corp. - Japan's fifth-largest carmaker that had abandoned its goal to sell 300,000 cars in China in 2010 due to lack of demand - hopes that Phelps' endorsement will help increase its sales. (ANI)