Phelps To Swim Again As He Ends Retirement

Michael Phelps is coming out of retirement and will participate in three events later this month.

It is the clearest signal yet the most decorated swimmer of all time may be getting ready to make an Olympic comeback at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

He has not competed since the 2012 London Games.

The American will headline an April 24-26 meet in Mesa, Arizona, with fellow Olympians Ryan Lochte and Katie Ledecky, USA Swimming said in a statement.

Bob Bowman, the swimmer's long-time coach, said Phelps has entered three events - the 50-metre and 100-metre freestyles and the 100-metre butterfly.

But he tried to downplay talk of a comeback.

"I think he's just going to test the waters a little bit and see how it goes," Mr Bowman said.

"I wouldn't say it's a full-fledged comeback."

Phelps retired from competitive swimming after winning four gold and two silver medals at the last Games to take his career tally to 22, 18 of which were gold.

Mr Bowman said Phelps was enjoying being back in the swimming pool.

"He doesn't have anything to prove, his legacy is sealed forever and he is just doing it because he loves to swim," he said.

Most observers believe that at 28, Phelps is far from being too old to dive into the pool.

In recent years, swimmers have successfully competed into their 30s and in the case of Dara Torres, who was 41 at her last Olympics in 2008, won medals.