The 26-year-old (pictured top) from Baltimore made history when he won eight titles at the last Olympics – more than any other athlete at a single Games – to bring his overall Olympic medal haul to 16, of which 14 are gold.

Ever since his phenomenal feat, Phelps has been plagued with the question about which events he will swim at London 2012 – and despite suggesting he would cut some races from his gruelling schedule, he finally unveiled his schedule during the US Olympic swimming trials in Omaha.

It means that Phelps could line up at London 2012 in the 200 and 400 metres individual medley, the 200m freestyle, the 100 and 200m butterfly, the 4x100 and 4×200m freestyle relay, and the 4×100m medley relay.

Phelps has already qualified for three of the five individual events at the trials – the 400m medley, 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly – and will be an automatic choice in the three relays.


He, therefore, only needs to qualify in the 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley to set up an identical schedule for two consecutive Olympics.

The news also increases the likelihood that Phelps will claim the three Olympic medals of any colour he needs to surpass the overall record of 18 held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina (pictured above, at Tokyo 1964).

But perhaps more importantly for Phelps, he has shown in the trials that he is once again able to compete with his arch-rival Ryan Lochte (pictured below), who has beaten a hitherto out-of-sorts Phelps consistently since Beijing.

The pair both booked Olympic spots in the 400m individual medley this week when Lochte beat Phelps.

However, Phelps stormed back the next day with a victory over his rival in the 200m freestyle – the results securing London 2012 places in this event for the pair.


Phelps also won the 200m butterfly – a race in which Lochte was not involved – and admitted afterwards he is starting to feel almost back to his best.

"Today was the best my stroke has felt throughout the whole meet," Phelps said.

"I'm pleased, but I think I need to go faster if I want to win that [200m butterfly] at the Olympics."

The news that Phelps is likely to swim eight events at London 2012 is a huge boost to organisers and fans as the American is regarded as one of the 'poster boys' of the Olympic Games.

Phelps is set to retire following London 2012 and victories over Lochte at the Games, with the pair set to meet in the 200m and 400m individual medley as well as the 200m freestyle before teaming up in the relays, would underline Phelps' status as the greatest ever swimmer.

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