Video interview courtesy of Universal Sports Network.
On night one of the 2013 FINA World Championships, Olympic swimming superstar, Michael Phelps, told Rowdy Gaines he wished he could’ve been on the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay championships final.
The French upset Team USA winning in 3:11.18. The Americans clocked 3:11.42, .24 away from a World Championship gold medal. The Russians were third, only .02 behind Team USA, touching the wall at 3:11.44.
Phelps doesn’t like seeing his country lose knowing he could’ve madeup the difference. Phelps surely feels a slight twinge from the 2012 London Olympic loss in this event, when the French upset Team USA because of Yannick Agnel’s exceptional anchor (46.74 split).
The real question is whether Phelps’ desire to race will be enough to get him back in the pool competitively. I hope so! What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
Lastly, after the 2012 London Olympic Games, I publicly stated three reasons why a Michael Phelps comeback made sense, why he should continue to race through Rio 2016:
1 – a sub 50 second 100 meter butterfly in a textile suit (noting that his old rival Ian Crocker remains the fastest textile suit flyer in history with a 50.40)
2 – a sub 47 second 100 meter freestyle (as I’ve felt, since Phelps’ flat start 48.1 100m free leadoff at the 2010 Pan Pacs, that he’s a sub 47 second freestyle if he doesn’t train for the 400 IM)
3 – 2016 Olympic Gold in the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay
What do you think?
See complete race footage of the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay championship final presented by Universal Sports Network here:
See all swimswam coverage of the 2013 FINA World Championships here.
There’s something so endearing seeing Michael Phelps back in around the pool and talking about swimming. For so long after London (and even going into London…) it was about how he couldn’t wait to leave. It almost seemed like he purposefully excluded himself from anything involved with swimming–at least publicly–unless absolutely required by sponsors. It almost seemed like he just couldn’t wait to get away…really glad to see him back, but also really enjoying being back in the world of swimming. His passion is still there. Regardless of whether he comes back (and selfishly, of course I hope so), I’m just really glad Michael is enjoying the sport again.
Y’all are delusional.
He could always train like the true flyer he is and do 100/200 fly and the relays, a sub 50(WR?) and sub 1:51(WR!) could be possible without the additional strokes in his training, and he could still keep a mid 47 100 free and 1:43 200 free at the ready for relays. I’m still convinced that at some point next summer y’all will break the news that he’s back in the water. Can’t imagine a Olympics without him, he’s been there since I was 5!
Michael will be back. No, I am not a “FANatic” who insists he is coming back simply because I want him to. I listed one major reason why I believed he would come back quite a while ago and took a few nasty hits. I will state this one more time. He will come back BECAUSE he has personal goals which he did not achieve. it isn’t about MORE gold medals. He has plenty of those. It is about his inner-fire to become better. I completely agree with the authors three reasons for returning. There is still plenty of time to return and get back to where he needs to be to get those goals. It isn’t about money. It… Read more »
I agree that Phelps should stick to the shorter events, however keep in mind he was never a sprinter. If he does come back (and assuming he maks the Rio team) I see him swimming in the 100 free, 100 fly, and 100 medley relay. Possibly the 200 IM, but even that’s a long shot.
Here’s why he’s coming back:
Dan Hicks: “-But have you totally closed the door?”
Michael Phelps: “Uh, well golf is obviously on the hold, I can’t play any golf right now.”
Rowdy Gaines: “Excuse me Michael, but it’s gotta be painful watching the relay like that and not saying, ‘God I wanna be out there.'”
MP: “Well, when, I know we could’ve won that… Read more »
Should have kept the rest of the video. The “all-knowing” Rowdy Gaines says MP is coming back. Rowdy is always saying,”No matter which way I do it on paper, the Americans just can’t do it.” Blah blah, Rowdy. The women won gold. That’s why it is a race and on paper doesn’t really mean jack. Am I the only one who thinks he is annoying?
He says MP is coming back when literally a few minutes before Michael said he has no plans for returning
BOURDAIS…. I like the additional event you listed…
I agree with you on “those opinions” (not ours) that he shouldn’t come back b/c he might fail. First, I don’t think he would, and secondly….as young as he is, he should continue to challenge himself. Phelps has more in the tank….. Of course, he wants to remain poolside, I can’t blame him either…
I’m also of the opinion that Pheps could still hang with the best in 2016, especially if he drops the more gruelling events, specifically the 200m butterfly and the 400m medley. If he kept his program to the three relays, 100m butterfly and 200m medley, it’s probable he could get strong placings in all of them, if not a few golds. If he does, then there’s another reason for Phelps to come back that you (GMM) missed – four chances at four-peating an Olympic swimming event, two of them in his two individual events.
That said, while I would very much like to see Phelps come back, I don’t think he should be pressured into doing so. There’s nothing wrong… Read more »