Like Sands Through the Hourglass: New Rumors of Michael Phelps’ Return

FORT WAYNE, Indiana, September 19. WELL, Michael Phelps certainly knows how to stir up some attention when pushing a product. Today, Phelps toured the facility that builds his Michael Phelps Signature Swim Spa in Fort Wayne, and made sure a local ABC affiliate was around to have a chat.

“You know I don’t know, really what my peak is. Nobody knows until they challenge themselves. That’s why it’s hard to say, to really put a cap on something. I spent 20 years in the pool. It was a grueling 20 years, and I loved what I’m doing now. Just having the freedom, you know, to travel when I can. So it’s just nice being able to have the freedom I never had before,” Phelps told 21 Alive.

21 Alive further reported that while Phelps “says he’s retired. He says that’s his status today, and who knows what the future holds.

Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman had stronger words stating that Phelps still has some things he can accomplish.

“I think that he’s accomplished more than anyone could ever expect for a person to accomplish in a career. I do think he could do more. I don’t think he was near his potential in London. I think there are some things he could improve on. Whether he decides to do that or not remains to be seen. He certainly has some things he could accomplish,” Bowman told 21 Alive.

To top it off, someone who claims they attended a meet-and-greet Q&A session following the television appearance said Phelps said he was training.

@nzaccardi @SwimmingWorld he mentioned he has started training again. Would not say he is not coming back to the pool, toured the Master Spa— raven shroyer (@RavenShroyer) September 19, 2013

This isn’t to say if it was purely driven to help promote his Signature Spa line or not, but there’s definitely been a lot more seen of Phelps around the North Baltimore Aquatic Club during the past few weeks as the soap opera that is the Hurricane Phelps Watch of 2013 continues to march towards the magical date that is December 1, 2013.

Phelps has to re-enter the drug-testing pool by that date to be able to swim at USA Swimming’s selection meets next summer. With a full year and a half off from the sport, he’s definitely going to want to have a year of competition under his belt before gunning for the 2016 Rio Olympics if he so chooses.

21 Alive article.

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