In this Aug. 3, 2012, file photo, United States’ Michael Phelps displays his gold medal for the men’s 100-meter butterfly swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Phelps is coming out of retirement, the first step toward possibly swimming at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Bob Bowman, the swimmer’s longtime coach, told The Associated Press on Monday, April 14, 2014, that Phelps is entered in three events — the 50- and 100-meter freestyles and the 100 butterfly at his first meet since the 2012 London Games at a meet in Mesa, Ariz., on April 24-26. AP
MESA, Arizona — Michael Phelps is entered in three events at his first swimming meet since he retired after the 2012 London Olympics.
The 22-time Olympic medalist is set to swim the 50- and 100-meter freestyles and the 100 butterfly at the Arena Grand Prix in Mesa, Arizona, starting next Thursday. Entries were released Friday.
Phelps is the top seed in the 100 fly, where he owns the world and American records. He is seeded eighth in the 100 free, which features a loaded field including Olympians Anthony Ervin and Nathan Adrian, along with Yannick Agnel of France, who trains with Phelps in Baltimore, Maryland.
Phelps is seeded 28th in the 50 free. The 28-year-old swimmer is planning to compete in fewer and shorter events in his comeback than he did while winning a record 18 Olympic gold medals during the height of his career.