Micheal Phelps Set To Another Break From Swimming

Michael Phelps said on Sunday he will take a break from swimming to attend a programme “to better understand myself”. The most successful athlete in Olympic history was arrested for driving under the influence for a second time on Tuesday. Police said he was clocked by radar at around 1.40am travelling at 84mph in a 45mph zone. He was booked and released.

SWIMMING: Super Phelps Impresses In First International Comeback Race

Michael Phelps made an ominous return to international competition, qualifying for the final of the 100 metres freestyle at the Pan Pacific championships at Australia's Gold Coast. Taking on the world's best sprinters in an event he rarely competed in even at his peak, Phelps won his heat and touched the wall in 48.45 seconds.

His time was third fastest overall, just behind the reigning Olympic champion Nathan Adrian (48.05) and the two-time world champion James Magnussen (48.25), but was still the talk of the pool deck on a rainy morning.

Still in the early stages of his comeback after he retired following the 2012 London Olympics, Phelps has struggled to get back to his best and pulled out of the 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke heats on Thursday.

SWIMMING: Phelps Races To 2nd Position In First Competitive Comeback

American Michael Phelps finished second in the 100m butterfly final at the Arena Grand Prix in Arizona - his first event since coming out of retirement.

The 18-time Olympic champion, who retired after the London 2012 Games, was beaten by rival Ryan Lochte. Phelps, 28, came out of retirement following concerns about weight gain.

"It's one meet; it's one race," said Phelps, who will also contest Friday's 50m freestyle. "It's a long way from whether I decide to continue or not."

SWIMMING: Micheal Phelps Set To Come Out Of Retirement

Michael Phelps, the most decorated swimmer of all time, will come out of retirement next week, the clearest signal yet that he is getting ready to make an Olympic comeback at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

The American, who has not competed since the 2012 London Games, will headline an April 24-26 meet in Mesa, Arizona, with fellow Olympians Ryan Lochte and Katie Ledecky, USA Swimming said in a statement on Monday.

Phelps's return to the pool touched off a wave of excitement on social media that added more fuel to speculation that the 28-year-old is planning to compete in Brazil, but his longtime coach did little to fan the flames.

SWIMMING: Ian Thorpe Might Loose Use Of Arm

The 31-year-old's manager James Erskine has confirmed that the swimmer is battling the infection, and that it is so serious he may never swim again.

"It's serious but it's not life-threatening," Erskine told Australian Associated Press.
"From a competitive point of view - he will not be swimming competitively again I don't think."

Thorpe reportedly picked up the infection while at home in Switzerland, but has returned to Australia where he is fighting the illness. Australia's Network Seven reported that the problems began following surgery at a hospital near the Swiss village of Ronco sopra Ascona, where Thorpe has a home.