Update May 18
Today, noted sports business journalist Darren Rovell tweeted that Michael Phelps' agent Peter Carlisle denies a rumored comeback by the Greatest of All Time. However, Rovell then went on to quote Carlisle in a way that did not completely shut the door on a potential Phelps bid to return to training.
Michael Phelps' agent Peter Carlisle tells me there are no plans at this time for a comeback.
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) May 18, 2013
Phelps' agent Peter Carlisle: “I suppose if he really got into the training, anything is possible, but it's way too premature.”
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) May 18, 2013
Original article
PHOENIX, Arizona, May 17. SUPERSTAR Michael Phelps is coming back, or is he?
As first rumored by Casey Barrett of CapandGoggles.com, and confirmed as fact tonight by former Morning Swim Show host Peter Busch and current NBC-2 news anchor in Florida, the Baltimore Bullet has grown bored with the lack of structure of his current lifestyle and will shortly be back in the saddle in Colorado Springs with mentor Bob Bowman.
Phelps, as shown below, would neither confirm nor deny the news via Twitter.
That will be good news to Allison Schmitt's ears, who took a year away from college at the University of Georgia to train at North Baltimore with Phelps in the year before winning three golds at the 2012 Olympics. It's likely that Chase Kalisz will spend time in Baltimore this summer after a successful freshman season at Georgia.
Phelps, who spent the day swimming laps at the Interlachen Country Club as evidenced by a tweet by lifeguard Stephen Timmes, has grown to miss the structure that a competitive swimming lifestyle provides.
Lifeguarded for and swam with Michael phelps at work today. I love my job #interlachen instagram.com/p/ZbWhfEDxw8/
— Stephen Timmes (@stephen_timmes) May 17, 2013
Busch first tweeted the news this evening.
EXCLUSIVE: I have confirmed that Michael Phelps is planning a comeback. nbc-2.com/story/22286148…
— Peter Busch (@peterbuschTV) May 17, 2013
This is gigantic news for Team USA, as the Greatest of All Time is back in the saddle and will provide the squad with his enormous leadership both in and out of the pool. Phelps holds the record for the most Olympic medals in a career, finishing the 2012 London Olympics with 22 medals, including an astonishing 18 gold medals.
Phelps will not be available this summer as he officially filed paperwork to retire from the sport and drug testing. Now, with at least a nine-month gap before returning to competition, he can focus on getting back into competitive shape. The required nine-month waiting period means Phelps won't be able to race in a USA Swimming meet until at least February 2014.
The next question becomes: Will the Greatest Olympian Of All Time stick around for a run at the 2016 Rio Games?
Since the story first broke, Phelps responded via Twitter with a bit of a cryptic post, neither confirming nor denying a comeback bid.
Why do I keep getting texts about coming back? Do ppl really believe everything they hear or read? There are … m.tmi.me/VVJFR
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) May 18, 2013
“Why do I keep getting texts about coming back? Do ppl really believe everything they hear or read? There are to many ppl in the world that think they have a “story”…” Phelps tweeted.
Busch, meanwhile countered on Twitter in response to Phelps.
Phelps just sent tweet insinuating that he's not coming back, but I feel very confident with my info. Guess we'll see.
— Peter Busch (@peterbuschTV) May 18, 2013