Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps to return to pool

Olympic swimming superstar Michael Phelps has announced that he will come out of his nearly two-year-long retirement, and make his competitive comeback at a US Grand Prix series event in Mesa, Arizona, next week.

USA Swimming announced Phelps, who retired from the sport after taking six medals at the 2012 London Olympics, on Monday, Sport24 reports.

Phelps, 28, returned to the anti-doping test program last year and his coach, Bob Bowman, had hinted at a comeback, which could see the record 22-time Olympic medalist continue his career all the way to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Phelps won four gold and two silver in London, giving him a record 18 gold medals, including an unprecedented eight in a single Games at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

A possible target for Phelps would be the US Championships in Irvine, California, August 6-10. That will be the American team selection meet for the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia.

Bowman said Phelps would most likely concentrate on relays and shorter events, including the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle.