{"id":54067,"date":"2014-04-24T15:32:01","date_gmt":"2014-04-24T22:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/?p=54067"},"modified":"2015-08-23T12:07:20","modified_gmt":"2015-08-23T19:07:20","slug":"video-michael-phelps-felt-like-a-summer-league-swimmer-in-first-post-retirement-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/video-michael-phelps-felt-like-a-summer-league-swimmer-in-first-post-retirement-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Video: Michael Phelps Felt Like “A Summer League Swimmer” In First Post-Retirement Race"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arena Grand Prix – Mesa editorial coverage is proudly sponsored by Arena USA. Visit ArenaUSA.com<\/a> for more information on our sponsor. For all the latest coverage, check out our event coverage page<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

MESA, Arizona, April 24. WITH the most anticipated race of 2014 behind him, Michael Phelps was all smiles in the press conference area today at the Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa, Ariz., at the Arena Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

In the video below, Phelps talks about being so anxious to swim the 100 butterfly prelims today that he couldn’t help but step onto the blocks early and crack a smile as the crowd cheered for him.<\/p>\n

“I felt like a summer league swimmer out there,” he said.<\/p>\n

Phelps’ coach, Bob Bowman, said he was pleased with what he saw from Phelps, noting that he knew something good would come out of the race based on what he saw in the warm-up.<\/p>\n

Phelps will get the opportunity to race his longtime friend and rival Ryan Lochte in tonight’s final, and Phelps laughed at Lochte’s pre-race goal of hoping to break 53 seconds. Lochte will be the second seed in the final with a 52.94 to Phelps’ 52.84.<\/p>\n