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 Yet all signs point to the world's greatest swimmer returning to
the pool for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In the strongest signal yet that his retirement won't last much
longer, Phelps has rejoined the U.S. drug testing program — a
necessary step for any athlete hoping to compete in an Olympic
sport.
"I have no idea what's going to happen," Phelps told The Associated
Press on Thursday in an exclusive telephone interview from
Minneapolis, where he was attending an Arena Grand Prix meet and
even got in some impromptu training in the diving well. "If I really
do start getting excited and wanting to do it, I can make that
choice. If not, at least it's something we can say we prepared for."
Phelps said he's merely giving himself the option of competing again
and stressed that "nothing is set in stone." But the doping program
is a major inconvenience, requiring him to be available for random
testing and keep officials apprised of his whereabouts.
"It is a challenging thing to do," he said. "We are covering all the
bases just in case."
Phelps is the winningest and most decorated athlete in Olympic
history. He captured 18 gold medals and 22 medals overall at the
last three Summer Games, shattering the previous marks. He is best
known for breaking Mark Spitz's record for a single Olympics by
winning eight gold medals at Beijing in 2008.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Phelps was among the athletes who
underwent doping tests in the third quarter, the period ending Sept.
30. He was tested twice.
His longtime coach and close friend, Bob Bowman, said Phelps
actually re-entered the doping program near the end of the second
quarter, but he wasn't tested and therefore wasn't listed in that
USADA report. He would be eligible to compete again in March,
according to Bowman.
"I just think he's in a place where he's feeling good about
swimming," Bowman said. "If he chooses to compete, he's got some
time. I like having the ability to do it. To be perfectly honest,
he's not anywhere near being able to compete in a meet or anything
like that. We're just getting started on improving his fitness.
We'll see where that goes."
Phelps has been training with Bowman's team at the North Baltimore
Aquatic Club. Each week, he's working a couple of days in the pool,
a couple of days in the weight room, and one or two days on his core
training. He has lost about 15 pounds and is back in the low 190s,
not far off his competition weight.
"If I decide to keep going and swim again, then I'll compete," he
said. "If I don't," he added, letting out a big laugh, "I guess I'll
re-retire. Just don't compare me to Brett Favre."
By subjecting himself to drug testing, the 28-year-old Phelps has
given himself plenty of time to go through an entire season before
the next major meet, the 2015 world championships in Russia, an
important steppingstone to the Rio Games the following summer. FINA,
the world governing body for swimming, requires an athlete to be
tested for at least nine months before taking part in sanctioned
events.
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"There's no grand scheme," Bowman said. "It just
sort of makes sense that he can make some choices if he wants
to."
Phelps attended the world championships in Barcelona this past
summer, but he seemed even more pumped about being on hand for
one of the more mundane events that fall between the Olympic
years.
"Just being around this is exciting for me," he said from
Minneapolis. "It really has been a part of my life ever since I
was a kid."
Phelps' return would surely be welcomed by the entire sport and
even those who only follow swimming during the Olympics.
It was the talk of the deck Thursday.
"I think it would be great for the sport," said Conor Dwyer, a
relay gold medalist at the London Games who trains with Phelps
at North Baltimore. "He elevated it so much before that I think
it can only get bigger with him in it. Obviously he's the
greatest swimmer of all time — doubled everyone's medal counts —
so to have him on your relay only helps the USA win more golds."
Phelps' appeal goes far beyond the pool deck. His recognition
factor has often matched athletes from far more prominent
sports, such as NBA star LeBron James, a truly impressive
accomplishment for a swimmer.
Phelps retired after winning six more medals at last summer's
London Olympics, adamant that all his goals were met and he had
no desire to still be swimming in his 30s. He will be 31 by the
time of the opening ceremony for the Rio Games — not that old,
really, for today's elite swimmers. One of his top rivals, Ryan
Lochte, is a year older and has every intention of competing
through the next Olympics.
If there is a comeback, Phelps wouldn't be doing it for the
money, having earned tens of millions of dollars in endorsements
during his career. He remains a marketable name, even in
retirement, though his endorsement potential certainly goes up
if he's in the water.
More likely, this is another case of an athlete who simply
missed the thrill of competition and is still young enough to do
something about it, assuming he can find the motivation to
endure Bowman's grueling regimen for nearly three more years.
"There are a lot of things that really excite me ... that get me
motivated," Phelps said. "But I swam for 20 years. That's
something that's going to be very, very hard to top."
[Associated
Press; EDDIE PELLS, AP National Writers]
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