'I'll Never Swim Eight Events Again,' Says Phelps

Michael Phelps has confirmed that he will not swim eight events at the London Olympics in 2012. Phelps made history last summer when he won eight gold medals at Beijing, beating his fellow American Mark Spitz's 1972 record by one as the most ever won by an athlete in a single Games.

In the process, the 23-year-old set seven world records, eight American records and eight Olympic records and became the most decorated male Olympian of all time with a total of 16 Olympic medals, including 14 golds, the others having been won in Athens in 2004.

His achievements were recognised yesterday by the United States Olympic Committee, which named Phelps its Sportsman of the Year for 2008, but the swimmer insisted he would not try to repeat his epic achievement in London or anywhere else.

"I'll never swim eight events at a major competition again," said Phelps. "I'm almost positive that my last eight-event meet was Beijing."

Phelps said easing back on his competitive schedule would allow him to enjoy the Olympics in London much more than he had at previous Games.

"I think I will have more time to take in all the experiences," he said, "possibly being in the stands and cheering. You know, I haven't had that experience since, I guess, 2001 at my first world championships. So, really being a part of the team more.

"When you're swimming so many events, all you do is eat, sleep, swim; eat, sleep, swim; eat sleep swim. You never get to be in the stands. I was always warming up, warming down, going back and forth to the pool, eating at the Village and then going to sleep.

"So that's something I'm looking forward to and it's something that should be fun."

"I've just recently started getting back into the water and training a little bit with some kind of 'official' days with Bob [Bowman, his coach] and everything that has happened this year has just been something that will be with me forever."