Phelps looking forward to 2012 Olympics
Monday, 23 March 2009
LOS ANGELES, Mar 22 (AFP): Michael Phelps says he has set aside thoughts of retirement and the American swimming star is looking forward to going for more gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Phelps said his recent troubles out of the pool, which included being photographed with a pipe used for smoking marijuana, resulted in him doing some soul searching, he told the Orange County Register.
Speaking Saturday at the US Olympic Training Centre in southern California, Phelps - who won an unprecedented eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics - said he is pleased to be back in the pool.
"I got points of view from everybody," said Phelps. "But deep down inside, I was the one who needed to decide what I was going to do. If I still had passion and still had drive to get back in the pool.
"I literally just woke up one Sunday. What am I doing? Why am I even questioning stopping now? I still have four more years and then I'll be done”.
Phelps said his recent troubles out of the pool, which included being photographed with a pipe used for smoking marijuana, resulted in him doing some soul searching, he told the Orange County Register.
Speaking Saturday at the US Olympic Training Centre in southern California, Phelps - who won an unprecedented eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics - said he is pleased to be back in the pool.
"I got points of view from everybody," said Phelps. "But deep down inside, I was the one who needed to decide what I was going to do. If I still had passion and still had drive to get back in the pool.
"I literally just woke up one Sunday. What am I doing? Why am I even questioning stopping now? I still have four more years and then I'll be done”.