Mission accomplished, says satisfied Phelps
26 Aug 2014 6:01 AM IST
Michael Phelps (in pic) says he accomplished all he wanted to in his first international meet back from retirement, after winning three gold medals at the Pan Pacific Championships in Australia.
The all-time greatest Olympian, who has won 18 gold medals at the Games, improved through the four-day meet at the Gold Coast which finished Sunday, winning the 100-metre butterfly and as part of the successful men’s medley and 4x200m freestyle relay teams.
Four months into his comeback, his form was in stark contrast to this month’s US Championships, where he failed to win. But the 29-year-old said there was room to improve as he looks to next year’s world championships in Kazan, Russia, and further ahead to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
‘I think for my first real international meet back we accomplished everything we wanted to. We were able to find out some of the things that I need to improve on over the next year and things I want to improve on. It is frustrating at times, but it’s usually how I respond well, so this is going to be a fun year and it’s going to be an exciting year. I have already started talking with (coach) Bob Bowman about some of the things that I need to do, like times that I need to go even before the world champs next summer,’ Phelps said.
The all-time greatest Olympian, who has won 18 gold medals at the Games, improved through the four-day meet at the Gold Coast which finished Sunday, winning the 100-metre butterfly and as part of the successful men’s medley and 4x200m freestyle relay teams.
Four months into his comeback, his form was in stark contrast to this month’s US Championships, where he failed to win. But the 29-year-old said there was room to improve as he looks to next year’s world championships in Kazan, Russia, and further ahead to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
‘I think for my first real international meet back we accomplished everything we wanted to. We were able to find out some of the things that I need to improve on over the next year and things I want to improve on. It is frustrating at times, but it’s usually how I respond well, so this is going to be a fun year and it’s going to be an exciting year. I have already started talking with (coach) Bob Bowman about some of the things that I need to do, like times that I need to go even before the world champs next summer,’ Phelps said.
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