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Phelps returns to the pool from suspension

(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-07 15:23

Olympic swimming gold medalist Michael Phelps prepares for his swimming work out Tuesday, May 5, 2009 in Baltimore.  [Agencies]

After going into virtual seclusion for nearly a month after the photo surfaced, Phelps called Bowman on March 1 - the coach remembers the day vividly - and said simply, "I'm doing it."

"I was not really concerned whether he would quit or not," Bowman said. "I was concerned that if he did quit, that he did it for the right reasons. Otherwise, it would just be a joke. I have told him, 'You've done all there is to do. If you quit today, you're the greatest of all time. You can walk away.' But I did think it would be bad if he walked away because of this thing. He should go on his own terms."

His motivation restored, Phelps plans to keep swimming through the 2012 London Olympics. While he's not going to attempt eight gold medals again, he will continue to do a program that would be exhausting to most swimmers.

In Charlotte, he'll swim five events: The 50-meter freestyle, 100 free, 200 free, 100 backstroke and 200 butterfly. Only two were on his record-breaking program in Beijing, the 200 free and 200 fly.

"I'm feeling good in the water and swimming some decent times in practice," Phelps said. "But I have no idea what to expect in the meet. I'm going in open minded."

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As for his life away from the pool, Phelps wouldn't discuss tabloid reports that he's dating Miss California, Carrie Prejean, who made headlines of her own last month when she finished runner-up in the Miss USA pageant. Some thought her response to a question about legalizing same-sex marriage may have cost her the title.

Phelps would only say the two "are good friends," but added that he can sympathize with what she's gone through since expressing her opposition to gay marriage.

As for tabloid reports of his heavy partying, Phelps rolled his eyes and said nearly everything written about him was false. Specifically, he denied a report detailing a wild night in New York City.

"I know I have not been perfect by any means," he said. "But I have learned from all of my mistakes. That's all you can ask for."

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