Michael Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, resumes his quest for gold at the 2012 London Olympics this week when he swims at the Minnesota Grand Prix.
Phelps, who also captured six golds at the 2004 Athens Games, and fellow American Ryan Lochte head the line-up at the first event on a seven-stop US tour that will prepare swimmers for next year’s World Championships at Shanghai.
Organisers of the November 12-14 meet announced that Phelps and Lochte would be among the competitors in races that will be staged over a short-course yards format rather than in metres as done in global events.
Phelps has not competed since last August at the Pan Pacific Championships, when he admitted not being in peak condition and had troubles in some events, notably in the 400 individual medley when Lochte and Tyler Clary were faster in heats to deny world record-holder and two-time Olympic champion Phelps a finals spot.