Phelps Admits Dark Thoughts - SI

Michael Phelps, the American swimmer whose 22 Olympic medals make him the most decorated Olympian of all time, has revealed that he was “in a really dark place” after he was arrested last year for drunk-driving – and admitted to feelings of “not wanting to be alive anymore.”

Phelps, who has 18 gold medals from three Olympic Games, describes his arrest and subsequent emotions in a revealing interview in Sports Illustrated, and recalls lying low at his home in Baltimore as news media were camped outside. “I was in a really dark place,” Phelps told SI. “Not wanting to be alive any more.”

Shortly after his arrest, he entered a treatment facility in Arizona. He says his 45-day stint rejuvenated him, but at the time he felt frightened. “Hug-hug, kiss-kiss, turn in my phone and go to my room. It’s probably the most afraid I’ve ever felt in my life.”

Phelps was pulled over in September 2014 after being clocked doing 84mph in a 45mph zone in Baltimore. He failed two sobriety tests and was charged with DUI, excessive speed and crossing double lane lines. “I just put my head on the desk,” his mother Debbie told SI. “I thought, Oh, my God, here we go again. How terrible is the world going to be to my son?”

Phelps’s coach, Bob Bowman, echoed Debbie Phelps’s concerns: “I had been living in fear that I was going to get a call that something had happened. Honestly, I thought, the way he was going, he was going to kill himself. Not take his own life, but something like the DUI, but worse.”

Phelps pleaded guilty to drunk-driving in December and was given one-year suspended sentence and 18 months of supervised probation, but avoided jail time. “The last three months of my life have been some of the hardest times I’ve ever gone through,” Phelps said on the courthouse steps after his hearing. “Some of the biggest learning experiences that I’ve ever had, finding out a lot about myself. For this day, I’m happy to be moving forward, and I’ll continue to grow from this.

“I look back now,” says Phelps says in Sport Illustrated. “I lived in a bubble for a long time.”

After the spell in rehab, Phelps got back in the pool. He returned to training last fall, and has worked hard to cultivate a leaner and more muscular physique. After been dropped from the US team for the 2015 world swimming championships in Russia this summer, Phelps competed in the US nationals instead, and won gold in three events, in each posting the fastest time of the year so far.

He has not drunk alcohol since his arrest, and has vowed not to drink until the Rio Olympics are finished next August. After years of enduring workouts with a hangover, Phelps is training clean. “Haven’t had a single sip and will not have a sip. The performances were there because I worked, recovered, slept and took care of myself more than I ever had.”

“I’m back to being the little kid who once said anything is possible,” Phelps says in SI. “You’re going to see a different me than you saw in any of the other Olympics.”

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Phelps Second to Lochte in Comeback

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Michael Phelps finished second in the 100m butterfly final at the Arena Grand Prix in Arizona - his first event since coming out of retirement.

The 18-time Olympic champion, who retired after the London 2012 Games, was beaten by rival Ryan Lochte.

helps, 28, came out of retirement following concerns about weight gain.

"It's one meet; it's one race," said Phelps, who will also contest Friday's 50m freestyle. "It's a long way from whether I decide to continue or not."

American Lochte finished in 51.93 seconds - the second-fastest time in the world this year - with Phelps close behind in 52.13 and Kenya's Jason Dunford third in 53.08.

Phelps' time was more than two seconds outside his world record of 49.82, set in 2009, but comfortably under the qualifying standard required for the United States national championships in August - which will act as a selection event for next year's World Championships in Russia.

"I'm really excited about how things went," added Phelps, when speaking to ESPN. "I do know what I need to do if I want to continue and swim faster."

Lochte, a five-time Olympic champion who beat Phelps to win the 400m individual medley at London 2012, said his fast time was a result of his rival's return to the pool.

"I probably wouldn't have gone that time if Phelps wasn't in that pool with me," said Lochte, 29. "We push each other all the time.

"With what he's done for the sport of swimming and him leaving kind of broke my heart a little because I love getting on those blocks and racing him.

"Now that he's back I've got a big old smile on my face."

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Michael Phelps for Rio

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Michael Phelps, the most successful Olympian in history, has given further indication of a comeback by re-registering with the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

The 28-year-old American retired from competition after winning his 18th Olympic gold medal during London 2012.

But Phelps has returned to training under Bob Bowman at North Baltimore.

Having completed doping tests, he will be eligible to compete in trials for the 2015 World Championships.

Rumours have circulated for some time that Phelps is keen to compete at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

It would be his fifth Games where, in addition to his 18 golds, he has also won two silver and two bronze medals.

Responding to the speculation about a return he said: "Nothing is set in stone. If I decide to keep going and swim again, then I'll compete.

"If I don't, I guess I'll re-retire. Just don't compare me to [American football quarterback] Brett Favre [who made several comebacks]."

Coach Bowman was also non-committal on the subject of Rio 2016. "I just think he's in a place where he's feeling good about swimming,'' he said.

"If he chooses to compete, he's got some time. To be perfectly honest, he's not anywhere near being able to compete in a meet or anything like that. We're just getting started on improving his fitness. We'll see where that goes."

Phelps Adds to Olympic Legend

Michael Phelps secured gold in his last individual event before retiring, winning the men's 100m butterfly.

The 27-year-old American's late surge gave him his third gold medal of London 2012 and the 21st Olympic medal of his career.

South Africa's Chad Le Clos and Evgeny Korotyshkin both touched the wall at the same time to tie for silver.

"It was a good way to finish my last individual swim ever," said Phelps.

"I didn't have a good finish and didn't have a good turn but I am just happy to defend that title."

Phelps, who won his first individual gold medal by beating Ryan Lochte in the 200m individual medley, now has five medals from these Games.

Phelps Lights Pool with Number 16

Michael Phelps claimed the 16th Olympic gold medal of his amazing career and 20th in total with a thrilling victory in the 200 metres individual medley on Thursday evening.

Phelps led from start to finish and held off fast-finishing American team-mate Ryan Lochte down the final freestyle leg to win in one minute 54.27 seconds, just 0.04secs outside his own Olympic record.

It means Phelps is the first man to win the event at three consecutive Games and comes just 48 hours after he won his 18th and 19th Olympic medals to overtake Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina, who held the previous record with 18.

Lochte, who had been forced to settle for bronze in the 200m backstroke final 30 minutes earlier, took silver in 1:54.90, with Hungary's Laszlo Cseh taking bronze. Britain's James Goddard was seventh in 1:59.05 after showing up for a long way.

"I'm a bit deflated now, a little bit confused too because I've been training so well the last few months," he said. "My team-mates and coaches will back me up and say I've worked really hard for this.

"It's a weird sport. Sometimes you work really hard and on the day it just doesn't kind of show.

"I just didn't really feel any bounce in my stroke. I just haven't had it since I've been here, it's a strange one."

On another successful evening for American swimmers, Tyler Clary took surprise gold in the 200m backstroke ahead of Japan's Ryosuke Irie and Lochte, after Rebecca Soni had claimed gold in the 200m breaststroke by smashing her own world record.

Soni was a massive odds-on favourite after setting a world record of two minutes 20.00 seconds in yesterday's semi-finals, and fully justified her status with a commanding performance.

The 25-year-old took control of the race after the opening length and touched in a time of 2:19.59secs, slicing more than four tenths of a second off her previous time. Japan's Satomi Suzuki claimed silver with Russian Iuliia Efimova taking bronze.

"I wasn't trying to focus on records or medals or anything, I just wanted to swim one more race the way I knew I could," Soni said.

"It has been my goal since I was a little girl to swim under 2.20, my coach told me I could be the first woman to swim 2.19 and I have been chasing it ever since and I am just so happy."

Holland's Ranomi Kromowidjojo ensured there would not be an American clean sweep of the evening's four finals, powering to victory in the 100m freestyle and lowering her Olympic record - set yesterday - to 53.00.

The 21-year-old was only fourth at the turn but stormed down the final length to finish ahead of Aliaksandra Herasimenia and China's Yi Tang.

Britain's Fran Halsall was fastest off the blocks but eventually finished sixth in 53.66, leaving the home nation with just two medals so far in the pool.

"I am bitterly disappointed," Halsall said. "I really wish I could have gone two-tenths faster and got on the podium but .....I've got to regroup, refocus and get angry for my 50m.

"I just didn't have it today. I can't change it now unfortunately, I gave it my best shot but the time just wasn't there. I'm looking forward to the 50 metres, I feel a lot better at that at the moment."

Phelps Sets New Olympic Medal Record

Michael Phelps became the most decorated athlete in Olympic history when his gold in the 4x200 metres freestyle relay took him to 19.

The 27-year-old had equalled Larisa Latynina's record earlier this evening with silver in the 200m butterfly.

However, the United States swimmer moved him beyond the Russian whose record had stood since 1964 to stand alone at the pinnacle with three more events to come.

The American has always maintained he is not interested in medal counts and will be furious with himself after Chad le Clos beat him on the touch in his first race of the evening - the 200m butterfly. 

It is a measure of the expectations placed on the Baltimore swimmer that there was audible shock around the Aquatics Centre, a feeling of deflation even.

However, credit is due to Le Clos who swam a superb race to take advantage of Phelps' poor judgement, the American gliding into the wall rather than finishing on a full stroke as has been his hallmark.

The South African won in one minute 52.96 seconds, 0.05secs ahead of Phelps with Japan's Takeshi Matsuda third.

Ryan Lochte Wins 400m Medley

World champion Ryan Lochte stormed to 400m individual medley gold as fellow American Michael Phelps could only finish fourth in London.

Reigning Olympic champion Phelps was off the pace as Lochte repeated his convincing victory at this month's US trials.

Lochte clocked four minutes 05.18 seconds, ahead of Brazil's Thiago Pereira and Kosuke Hagino of Japan.

The victory means Lochte has now won four Olympic gold medals.

Lochte has dominated the 400m IM since Beijing, with Phelps choosing not to compete in the gruelling event again until this year.

Ryan Out as Phelps Wins 100m Butterfly

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Ryan and Michael Lochte in Olympic Battle

US swimmers Michael Phelps and his Ryan Lochte have set up one final meeting before London 2012.

The pair will meet in the final of the 200m individual medley at the US Olympic trials in Omaha after setting the fastest times in the semi-finals.

Racing next to each other, Lochte finished first in one minute 55.51 seconds, with Phelps easing to 1:56.66.

Phelps said: "I knew he kind of took off, so I was like I should probably save something for tomorrow."

"I kind of shut it down once the race was kind of over," he added.

Lochte - whose time was the fastest in the world this year, said: "It was just about getting a lane in the final, but the final's going to be a dog fight."

The race is the third meeting between the two in Nebraska, after Phelps beat Lochte in the 200m freestyle final, while Lochte won the 400m individual medley final.

Phelps, who has won 200m medley gold at the last two Olympics, has already qualified for three individual events and in addition to the 200m medley he has the 100m butterfly to come, while Lochte has booked his place for two events and can add two more on Saturday.

PHELPS v LOCHTE

Michael Phelps

Olympics: 14 golds (six in Athens & eight in Beijing); two bronze (Athens)

World Championships: 24 golds, 6 silvers, 1 bronze

Ryan Lochte

Olympics: 3 golds (one in Athens & two in Beijing); 1 silver (Athens); 2 bronzes (Beijing)

World Championships: 11 golds, 2 silvers, 1 bronzes

Lochte Tests Phelps in US Trials

Ryan Lochte got the better of rival Michael Phelps on the first day of the US Olympic trials in Omaha.

The pair competed in the 400m individual medley, with Lochte winning in 4:07:06 and Phelps second in 4:07.89.

The race was the first of six possible meetings between the two this week, but Lochte was far from satisfied.

"That time was not good at all, I know I'm capable of going way faster," said the 27-year-old.

"There were definitely a lot of places during that race where I knew I could go faster, I just didn't. But I had to do what I had to do to get on the wall, and hopefully that will change in a month."

Phelps, the 2004 and 2008 Olympic champion in the event, led during the butterfly leg of the race, but was overhauled on the backstroke and could not recover.

The result means that Lochte and Phelps are the two American qualifiers for the 400m individual medley in London, with world silver medallist Tyler Clary - the fourth-fastest swimmer ever in the event - missing out in third.

"All three of us were side by side by side and we were neck and neck," said Phelps.

"You could hear the excitement of the crowd and that's something that definitely played a pretty big role in giving me a little extra energy the last 150. I was very pleased with that."

Phelps did make history by becoming the first American male swimmer to qualify for a fourth Olympics, and his coach, Bob Bowman, said: "We knew that (losing) was a distinct possibility in this event.

"I don't think we had any illusions. He knows that he's in the range. He knows he can get better."

The 100m and 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 200m medley and 100m butterfly could all see Lochte and Phelps, who hold 11 world records between them, in direct competition.

The pair are next in competition in the 200m freestyle heats and semi-finals on Tuesday, when 17-year-old Missy Franklin and 40-year-old Janet Evans also join the action.

Elsewhere on Monday, Peter Vanderkaay and Conor Dwyer sealed their places on the team in the 400m freestyle, while Elizabeth Beisel and Caitlin Leverenz were first and second in the women's 400m medley.