A proper question to ask Olympic gold medal swimmer, cover girl, celebrity car racer and talk show host Amanda Beard is what’s left for an Encore?

But since we were facing Encore from poolside at the Palazzo, we phrased it differently.

"When it’s not an Olympic year, you have to find ways to get motivated," said Beard, who has captured seven Olympic medals since 1996. "I’ve been training for the world championships this summer in Shanghi, then will take a small vacation and focus on London and the Summer Games in 2012.

Beard disclosed that we may see her swim in 2016, but "I wouldn’t put money on that one.’’

Speaking of putting money down, that’s exactly what Beard did during her Palazzo visit to promote Azure and the chic third level pool.

"I like keeping money in my pocket, but I did gamble a little," said the 200-meter breaststroke champion, who has modeled for FHM, the 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition and the July 2007 issue of Playboy where she posed nude.

"I’m not a good gambler," she laughed. "I lost $15 playing the penny slots. I played some penguin game. I did take a picture of the Star Wars machine for my son and husband. It was hot though and couldn’t get on to that game."

Beard also went a step further about gaming, saying that more fans would be interested in swimming if you could bet on the outcome.

"I think it would be cool, but people would have to learn more about the sport," she said. "It would be good for us. I don’t know if any of my competitors took side bets, but I’ll look into that for you. I’m sure there is something going on."

Swimming is a sport that people get excited about every four years, something Beard acknowledges and wishes were different.

"People are excited about it during the Olympics and maybe the year after," said Beard, who grew up on the beaches of Southern California. "I understand that, but maybe things will change over the next 20 to 30 years.

And who’s the best swimmer Amanda ever saw?

"I’d have to say Michael Phelps," she said.

Mark Spitz might feel differently.

"That’s OK, she said. "It’s still Michael."