The 28-year-old American has entered four events for the June
19-22 Grand Prix meet in Santa Clara, double what he swam at two
previous meets since coming out of retirement.
He does not have any events on the first day of competition in Santa
Clara but is entered for each of the other three days, providing him
with an early test of his speed and stamina.
On Friday he will contest the 100 metres freestyle, an event he has
never swum at the Olympics, but one that he needs to set a
qualifying time in so he can make the U.S. 4x100m freestyle relay
team.
Phelps is also entered in Friday's 100m butterfly, one of his
favorites events. He won gold in the event at each of the last three
Olympics and has already competed in it at his two previous meets.
On Saturday, Phelps is entered for the 200m freestyle, though it
remains to be seen whether he is planning to stick with that event
or just use it to qualify for the 4x200m relay, which the United
States have won at the last three Olympics.
Although Phelps won the individual 200m freestyle final at Beijing,
where he captured an unprecedented eight golds, he skipped the event
for the 2012 London Olympics and would seem less likely to add it
for Rio after saying he wanted to reduce his program.
He entered the 200m freestyle at a Grand Prix meet in Charlotte last
month but did not compete in the final after swimming fast enough in
the heats to qualify this year's U.S. national championships in
California.
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For Sunday, Phelps has entered the 200m individual medley, another
event he won at the past three Olympics.
He has not swum the multi-discipline race since London but his
inclusion in the heats could be a pointer to what he may enter in
Rio although Phelps and his coach have refused to discuss their
plans and are keeping everyone guessing.
(Reporting by Julian Linden in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)
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