Michael Phelps won the 100m butterfly preliminary heat in his first meet since coming out of retirement, but ultimately fell to swimming rival Ryan Lochte in the first final.
ESPN noted that Phelps won the earlier heat with the fastest time of 52.84 seconds, which had him advancing to the final at the Arena Grand Prix.
“I felt like a kid, being able to race again and be back at a meet,” he told Universal Sports Network. “I literally feel like a 10-year-old kid, just enjoying it. I was excited to get in the water yesterday. I probably came up to the blocks a little early, a little too excited. A new experience again for me, but I like it.”
In the evening race, however, Lochte touched in 51.93 seconds and Phelps touched in 52.13, placing him second.
The Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa, Arizona was filled to capacity with folks there to see and cheer on the 28-year-old Phelps.
The end to his retirement has led many to speculate whether or not he will compete in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Phelps himself has not made any official announcement regarding the upcoming Games though.
Looks like fans will just have to wait and see if the most-decorated Olympian of all time does decide to compete and adds more medals to his total.
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