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Phelps’ comeback gathers pace

LOS ANGELES — Less than four months after coming out of retirement, Michael Phelps will match his toughest challenge, entering four events at the United States national championships next week. Phelps has confirmed he will compete in the 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley at the meet in Irvine, California.

Phelps will swim four events at the US national championships. 
Photo: EPA

Phelps will swim four events at the US national championships.
Photo: EPA

LOS ANGELES — Less than four months after coming out of retirement, Michael Phelps will match his toughest challenge, entering four events at the United States national championships next week. Phelps has confirmed he will compete in the 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley at the meet in Irvine, California.

The national championships, along with the Pan Pacific Championships in Australia a couple of weeks later, will determine the American team for next year’s world championships. On his return, Phelps stated this to be his first competitive goal.

“I feel good,” Phelps told The Associated Press. “Just staying relaxed is the biggest thing, not putting too much pressure on myself. I’m just going out and continuing what I’ve been doing throughout the year, just having fun. That’s how I’ve been able to swim my best.”

The 29-year-old is the most decorated Olympic athlete with 18 gold medals and 22 medals overall. He retired after the London Games, having accomplished all his goals and saying he had no desire to swim into his 30s. But he began plotting a comeback less than a year later. Since returning, he has competed in four meets, but this will be his stiffest task yet, giving him a chance to assess how far he has come in a relatively short time.

His longtime coach, Bob Bowman, said Phelps has shaken off much of the rustiness in his technique, improving his starts and turns.

Bowman hinted that conditioning is Phelps’ biggest question mark, even more so now that he is taking on more events. AGENCIES

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