Stephanie Rice and Michael Phelps appeared friendly at a Speedo demonstration this week.

Now that U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps has racked up his eight gold medals and chosen Frosted Flakes over Wheaties, we can focus breathlessly on his love life, since, of course, all his training and competing and posing for the media has left him a ton of time with which to pursue the ladies.

And today, a new name and face — from Australia! — was added to the pool.

To recap:

Earlier this week, Phelps was linked for nearly half an hour to U.S. swimmer and onetime Playboy model Amanda Beard. She quickly and rather cattily dismissed the rumours, suggesting he was kind of yucky-looking.

Beard later apologized for the remarks.

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Miley Cyrus is planning her 16th birthday party for later this year, and she says you can come — for $250.

Yes, the singer and actress, who raked in slightly more than $18 million last year, is selling a limited number of tickets to her birthday party, according to “Entertainment Tonight” and Us Weekly’s Web site.

“It’s gonna be an awesome party with more than 7 things I like,” she told the TV tabloid show, craftily working in a reference to her single “Seven Things.” “It’s gonna be totally awesome. I hope it’s a great time.”

Cyrus did not detail how people can snag tickets, but we imagine that info will be made available soon enough on her Web site. Her birthday is Nov. 23

About the only details she leaked on her upcoming milestone event is that she somehow wants it to involve roller coasters. “I love roller coasters,” she revealed. “So this is my ultimate birthday.”

The twins trend will soon see no end.

Joining Brangelina, J-Lo and Marc Anthony, Marcia Cross, Diddy, Patrick Dempsey, Nancy Grace, Elvis Costello and Diana Krall, Dennis Quaid, Julia Roberts, etc. is Ricky Martin, who became a father of twin boys a few weeks via surrogate mother.

If you picked “surrogate mother” in the “How will Ricky Martin ever have biological offspring” office pool, you weren’t alone. Trust us.

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Here’s a taste from Wednesday’s People Column.

IS THIS ANY WAY TO TREAT AN AMERICAN HERO?: Rumors about the love life of U.S. Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps were flying fast and furious Tuesday, but faster than you can say “naked flip turns are not allowed in this pool, mister,” the most sizzling of these rumors was shot down.

To wit: Phelps is not — repeat NOT — dating Olympic swimmer and Playboy magazine model Amanda Beard.

Beard told the syndicated-radio team of Johnjay and Rich in the Morning that she is not dating Phelps and furthermore made it Olympic-pool-water-clear that she has no interest in doing so.

She has a boyfriend, she said, and furthermore made it clear that she finds Phelps about as attractive as a sturgeon filet.

Example of the radio interview:

Johnjay and Rich: Have you ever kissed him?
Beard: Eww! No!

However, another rumor, one which has not been squished yet, is that Phelps is dating Brit model Lily Donaldson.

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