Winningest Olympian back in the pool
WASHINGTON: Michael Phelps is coming out of retirement, the first step toward possibly swimming at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The 22-time Olympic medalist will compete for the first time since the 2012 London Games at a meet in Mesa, Arizona, on 24-26 April.
Bob Bowman, the swimmer’s longtime coach, told The Associated Press on Monday that Phelps is entered in three events the 50- and 100m freestyles and the 100m butterfly.
“I think he’s just going to test the waters a little bit and see how it goes,” Bowman said by phone from Baltimore. “I wouldn’t say it’s a full-fledged comeback.”
Phelps returned to training last autumn and re-entered the US drug-testing program. He has completed his six-month waiting period by the US Anti-Doping Agency to be eligible for competition.
Bowman said Phelps is “pretty far” from being back in top form. He’s been training from Monday until Friday with Bowman’s team in North Baltimore.
“He’s gotten back into good shape since September,” the coach said. “He can give a good effort and certainly not be embarrassed. He’s in enough shape to swim competitively.”
Phelps, who turns 29 in June, had vowed that he wouldn’t swim into his 30s. His camp is being low key about the comeback. “I think he’s just really enjoying it,” Bowman said. “He enjoys the training and being physically fit. He just kind of wants to see where he’s at. It’s more really for fun. It’s been nice for me to see him swim just for the joy of it really.”