Michael Phelps Sets His Sights on 2012 Olympics

Bettor.com: The 2008 Beijing Olympics superstar, Michael Phelps, aims to find his standing at the upcoming stages of the 2011 Shanghai World Championships and the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The 25-year-old Michael Phelps is putting in all his efforts to dominate his events at the various stops of the 2010-11 USA Grand Prix Series, as he heads for the 2012 Olympics. The 14-time Olympic gold medallist, Phelps, displayed some inferior swims at the Austin Grand Prix, where he lost his events of Individual Medley (IM). Phelps suffered a disappointing defeat from Lochte at the Austin Grand Prix held in January. In the 200m Individual Medley, Lochte made a record by finishing in 1 minutes and 59.26 seconds, while Phelps came third in his worst ever performance.

Before the Indianapolis Grand Prix, he said that his participation at the fourth stop of the USA Grand prix will give him an idea of his standing as a competitor. He swam in the events of the 200m freestyle and butterfly, 200m fly, 100m freestyle and the Individual Medley at the Indiana University Natatorium.

The Olympic champion faced a tough competition from Ryan Lochte, who was declared as the dominant swimmer of 2010.

Phelps said, “Hopefully, I'll be able to swim a little faster than I did in Texas. I feel like I'm making steps forward. Over the last couple weeks, couple months, I feel like I'm heading in the right direction. I think there are some small technical things I need to work on.”

Phelps is also preparing for the 2011 World Championships to be held in Shanghai, during July. This will be the last main event before the summer Olympics 2012. With reference to increasing competition, Phelps realises that there are new faces, as the Europeans are doing really well and Ryan is also giving a great performance. He looks forward to the fun-filled summers in Shanghai, this year.

Phelps has not made further plans beyond the 2012 Olympics and is aware of the fact that this could be his farewell tour. Nevertheless, with a spectacular career and a bundle of achievements, he is motivated to do more. He has some goals in mind which he wants to achieve before he officially retires.

With two deteriorating swims in the 200m butterfly event at the Michigan Grand Prix and Charlotte UltraSwim, Phelps is well aware of the fact that a lot is needed to be done. At the Michigan championships, he lost the distant butterfly event for the first time in nine years, finishing fourth in his main category. In addition, he failed to re-gain his 200m title at the Charlotte UltraSwim, as he finished second in the butterfly swim.

Phelps, who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, admits that he will have to work hard for the upcoming world events, as he never thought that he would lost his 200m butterfly crown.