Michael Phelps announces sensational comeback to swimming; will return to competition next week

Michael Phelps after winning a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics

Michael Phelps, arguably the greatest Olympian of all time, has decided to come out of retirement. The holder of 18 Olympic gold medals and 22 medals overall has announced a sensational comeback to swimming just two years ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

After winning four gold medals and two silver medals at the London Olympics, which took his individual gold medal tally to 18 and his overall medal tally to 22, it was widely thought that Phelps’ era of dominance in the pool was over, with the American having little to no enthusiasm to swim and compete again.

But Phelps has surprised many by announcing that he, alongside other swimming stars like Ryan Lochte and Katie Ledecky, will compete at the Arena Grand Prix in Mesa, Arizona, from April 24-26.?

“As of today, I definitely expect him to swim,” Phelps’ long-time coach Bob Bowman told USA TODAY Sports over the phone on Monday. “We’re looking forward to it. I think it’ll be great for the sport to have Michael compete again. We really don’t have any expectations for what might happen. We just want to have some fun with it and see how it goes.”

Phelps is expected to take part in the 100-metre butterfly and 100-metre freestyle events on the first day, and could enter a couple more events depending on how his body feels.

“Those are both on the first day, and he’ll probably try both of those (preliminaries) in the morning, see how it goes, and maybe do one final if he gets to the finals,” Bowman said. “The next day, he’s entered (in the 50 free) and will probably do a 50 butterfly. We don’t know yet.

“After this, we can decide what he wants to do next,” Bowman added.

Expectedly, the CEO of Mesa Aquatics Club, Paul Smith, was over the moon with the news of Phelps’ participation.

“It’s historic, it’s going to be a media spectacle,” Smith said. “No other venue has the same feel and proximity to the action as ours. It’s going to be thrilling regardless of what shape he (Phelps) is in. There’s something about being at pool level that is energizing.”

Bowman said he and Phelps decided on competing in Mesa a few months ago.

“This meet happens to be at the right time,” Bowman said. “He’s eligible to swim in a meet, and he thought it might be fun to do one. We heard this was a great meet. I don’t think it was something we had targeted; it came up at the right time.”

Phelps is already the most successful Olympian in the history of the games and should he decide to take part in it, the Rio Olympics will be his fifth Games.