Michael Phelps: The Final Stretch

Column by John Lohn, Swimming World senior writer

GILLETTE, New Jersey, March 12. THERE'S this guy from Baltimore, his legacy long ago established, who will walk away from the sport this summer. Whether he wins eight more gold medals or one, no one will question his status as the greatest swimmer in history. Still, since the conclusion of the Beijing Games in 2008, there were questions concerning whether his finale would be epic, or a limp to the wall.

Starting with some strong performances at last summer's World Championships, it became clear that Michael Phelps — he of 16 career Olympic medals — was not about to leave the pool with anything less than a flourish. After this weekend, there is no doubt that Phelps will be ready to rip this summer in London. The proof is in his trio of victories from the Columbus Grand Prix, all in superb times for this point in the season.

Coming off altitude training, Phelps opened some eyes with his efforts in the 200 freestyle, 200 butterfly and 100 freestyle. That's what happens when you produce respective times of 1:45.69, 1:55.32 and 48.49. Phelps' presence on a pool deck is, in itself, a warning shot to the competition. These times from the weekend, too, can be considered a message.

After Beijing, where he became the most-decorate gold medalist in Olympic history with 14, Phelps officially had nothing more to prove in the sport. So, it wasn't surprising that his training curtailed and his times were not Phelpsian in nature. Nonetheless, people expected spectacular speed and performances, the accompanying curse for doing things in the pool that were never before seen.

Now, with London lurking, it is obvious that Phelps has regained the focus he possessed in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. In some ways, Phelps is like Tiger Woods in his heyday: All that counts are the major championships. For Phelps, his last Grand Slam event is creeping closer, and he is revving up to excel for those all-important eight days.

“It's crazy what training actually does,” said Phelps, producing a beauty of a tongue-in-cheek quote. “When you do start to train and you do start working, you do get in better shape. It's kind of wild how that works.”

Olympic Trials around the world have begun, with Great Britain having recently begun its selection process. Coming up, Australia and France will fill out their rosters for London. You can bet those with desires on podium positions will be well aware of Phelps' results and the fact that the mountain to gold just became a lot steeper.

Beyond international athletes, it's also safe to say that Phelps' American rivals have knowledge of what's been going down. When the United States holds its Olympic Trials in Omaha in late June, Phelps and Ryan Lochte will square off in at least the 200 freestyle and 200 individual medley. In those events at the World Champs, Lochte bettered his rival. Bet your mortgage that Phelps hasn't forgotten, and it's also likely that Lochte knows Phelps popped a 1:45-and-change showing in the 200 free in Columbus.

Unless he changes his mind, Phelps' career-ending days are a few months away. What is he going to do? How fast is he going to swim? How many more medals will he add to his career total? Those questions will officially be answered in London. What we do know is this: The greatest swimmer of all-time is putting in the training necessary to excel for his farewell, which is shaping up to be something special.

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