Michael Phelps begins serious training but will not compete at all eight events at London 2012 Olympics

American swimmer Michael Phelps has enjoyed his downtime celebrating his sensational performance at the Olympics but it’s time to get back to work though he’s looking to scale-back a bit this time.  Phelps, who made history winning eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, will not attempt to repeat the feat when he competes at London 2012.

Michael of course became the most successful athlete at an individual games in China, setting seven world records, eight American records and eight Olympic records in the process of beating fellow swimmer Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals set in 1972.

The 23-year-old  becoming the most decorated male Olympian of all time with a total of 16 Olympic medals, including 14 golds – the others having been won in Athens in 2004.

His achievements were recognized by the United States Olympic Committee, which named Phelps its Sportsman of the Year for 2008, but the swimmer insisted he would not try and repeat his epic achievement in London or anywhere else.

Phelps, has now revealed he has returned to serious training on Tuesday with long-time coach Bob Bowman, and was delighted with this latest award which followed being named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year for 2008.

“I think this year as a whole, being over in Beijing and being SI Sportsman Of The Year and now being USOC Sportsman of the year, it’s all really been a dream come true and things just keep on getting better.

“I’ve just recently started getting back into the water and training a little bit with some kind of ‘official’ days with Bob and everything that has happened this year has just been something that will be with me forever.

“It is really is an honor to receive the USOC Sportsman of the year award.”

“I’ll never swim eight events at a major competition again,” Phelps said.

“I’m almost positive that my last eight-event meet was Beijing.”

Phelps said easing back on his competitive schedule would allow him to enjoy the Olympics in London much more than he had at previous Games.

“I think I will have more time to take in all the experiences,” he said, “possibly being in the stands and cheering.

“You know, I haven’t had that experience since, I guess, 2001 at my first world championships. So, really being a part of the team more.

“When you’re swimming so many events, all you do is eat, sleep, swim; eat, sleep, swim; eat sleep swim. You never get to be in the stands.

“I was always warming up, warming down, going back and forth to the pool, eating at the village and then going to sleep.

“So that’s something I’m looking forward to and it’s something that should be fun.”

Source: ChattahBox News