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Summary Michael Phelps said in Shanghai that his form is improving and is ready to compete again.
The 14-time Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder Michael Phelps held a press conference in Shanghai Oriental Sports Center.The press conference was for the US team competing at the Shanghai FINA World Championships. For fear that the conference would turn into an exclusive interview of Phelps, the US team split the one-hour interview into two parts, with the first half allocated to other team members and the latter for Phelps, making him the first person to hold an exclusive press conference in the sports center.I hope I can have some more walk outside this week. Thats all the something good to have. You know I think being able to come back here and being able to compete here, I think its pretty exciting. You know Ive been able to have a lot of good memory here. Hopefully I could have some this week, because I think its going to be a challenging week. But, you know I think being able to be prepared as we have, said Michael Phelps at the press conference.Phelps regards FINA as a transition race, since his ultimate goal is the London Olympics.Its quite frustrating last year. You know I think this year I actually feel like I have confidence. Last year I dont think I really knew what to think or what to expect. So I think coming into this meet, it is sort of test to see what my body can handle for next year, said Michael Phelps at the press conference.The world class swimmer went astray after all the glories of 2008 Beijing Olympics. He lost interest in swimming and gave up training, and was exposed by media for smoking marijuana; described as the lowest time of his life.I realize that the things I do in and out of the pool, you know, I should take responsibility for them. I am doing it myself, if I dont show up to work out, thats I am hurting myself, and hurting anybody else, said Michael Phelps, I know what I need to do and I know how to handle myself and prepare for the games.Once again he has found a target to strive for, the London Olympics next year. However, London might be his last competition as he announces to retire after the 2012 Olympics.I am excited for the next year, you know, I am excited to move on and try some other things. But also at the same time I think its gonna to be really wired, to hang up the suit, thinking about all the memories we have gone through and experiences that we have had and pools weve been to, countries weve been to. So I think that was hard to think about. I have got a year left, its going to be a good year. I am excited for it. And Ill have fun, He said.
