North Baltimore’s Phelps, which speaking to the media, is putting his swimming suit in a drawer after the 2012 London Olympics, as he intends to create his interest in something else.
The 14-time Olympic Games gold medallist, Michael, explained that he has an aim to accomplish more in the pool, but there is not much time left.
Nevertheless, Phelps ensured that he will try to make a splash at the upcoming world events, as these will be his final events.
The 25-year-old Phelps’s decision is said to be driven by his upsetting performances during 2011. At first, Phelps lost his events of 200m IM and 400m IM from Ryan Lochte at the 2011 USA Grand Prix Series in Austin. Then, he enhanced his performance at the fourth stop of USA Grand Prix in Indianapolis, conquering five gold medals, but failed to retain his position in the 200m butterfly event at the Eric Namesnik Michigan Grand Prix during April 2011.
This was his first defeat in the 200m butterfly event in ten years. Phelps said, "I wasn't too pleased with what happened there. It's frustrating, losing the streak I had in 200-fly."
"That was a streak I wanted to keep throughout my career. I think it was a good thing for me to have now, something I can use as a wake-up call heading into worlds. I will use it as fuel and motivation to be in the shape I want to be in — and need to be in — next time I compete," he added.
With the decision concerning his retirement, Phelps is left only with three championships including the Charlotte UltraSwim Grand Prix in May, 2011 World Championships in July and the 2012 Olympics.
Furthermore, Phelps’s decision will have a severe affect on USA Swimming, as they might lose the most dynamic athlete in the history of swimming and their medal tally after Phelps’s retirement.
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