ISTANBUL
American Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Michael Phelps is coming out of retirement and returning to the swimming pool next week.
The United States Swimming organization confirmed Phelps' participation in a press release on its official website. According to USA Swimming, it will be the first time that he has competed since winning six medals, four of them gold, at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Along with other swimming stars such as Ryan Lochte and Katie Ledecky, the 22-time Olympic medalist will compete at the Arena Grand Prix in Mesa, Arizona, taking place April 24-26 and participate in three events—the 50- and 100-meter freestyles and 100-meter butterfly.
This move paves the way for 28 year-old swimmer to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, which would be Phelps' fifth Games.
Michael Phelps, who broke Mark Spitz's record for a single Olympics by winning eight gold medals in Beijing in 2008, had vowed that he would not swim into his thirties.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
