Michael Phelps is anguished no more. After a frustrating year marked by losses, lack of motivation and fitness, and indecision about his future in the pool, the 14-time Olympic champion is happy to be working hard again.
Fueled by time standards known only to him and coach Bob Bowman, Phelps is at the world championships, an eight-day meet that will serve as the next-to-last chapter in his storied career.
The ending will be written at next year's London Olympics.
“I kind of feel like my own self,” he said Saturday at a jammed news conference held the day before swimming begins at the Oriental Sports Center's indoor pool. “I've been excited and happy to be around the pool.”
Phelps plans to swim the 200 freestyle, 100 and 200 butterflys and the 200 individual medley.
He still owns the world records in both fly events. Trainer Bob Bowman confirmed that Phelps will swim all three relays, too.
He opens the championships in China today as part of the U.S. 400-meter free relay, the most anticipated event on the opening day of swimming.
Phelps will renew more rivalries in the 200 free final on Tuesday. Awaiting him are teammate Ryan Lochte and Paul Biedermann of Germany, who trounced Phelps with a world-record time in a stunning upset in Rome. Of course, that was before FINA banned the high-tech suits that led to 43 records at those worlds.
Lochte and Phelps will duel in the 200 IM, where Lochte is the defending world champion whose results last year made him the top American swimmer.
“What Michael did in 2008 is definitely going to go down in history, but that was three years ago,” Lochte said. “Anything can happen. I know I'm definitely a better swimmer than in '08. We're going to put on a show.”
Phelps' seven-event program in Shanghai is one less than he swam at the Beijing Olympics, where he burnished his legend as the greatest swimmer in history by winning eight gold medals.
Synchronized: Russia completed a gold-medal sweep of all seven events at the synchronized swimming world championships, winning the final event — the team free — to give Natalia Ishchenko her sixth gold.
Russia's eight-woman team including Ishchenko scored 98.620 points.
China was second with 96.580 and Spain took the bronze.
The 25-year-old Ishchenko has 16 world championship gold medals and a team gold with Russia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
