Michael Phelps keeps saying he has no plans for a swimming comeback. Yet he's leaving the door open to change his mind in time for the 2016 Olympics.
As Phelps puts it, "I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow."
While saying he's never been happier with his life - and certainly doesn't miss the grind of what it took to become the most successful athlete in Olympic history - he did not rule out, 100 per cent, a change of mind before the 2016 Rio Games.
In Barcelona for the world swimming championships, Phelps spoke to the media in a series of one-on-one interviews.
While he quickly shot down questions about whether he had done any clandestine training for a possible comeback, he was not as adamant as he's been in the past about his swimming career ending at the London Olympics.
Asked by the AP, yes or no, whether he'll compete in Rio, Phelps said he hasn't planned that far ahead in his life.
That's a striking change from his comments before and immediately after the London Games, when he insisted his retirement was set in stone and it had always been his goal to quit swimming before he turned 30.
Phelps will be 31 at the time of the opening ceremony for the Rio Games.
"I don't know. We're in 2013," he said, before adding, "There's nothing in the works right now."
There's plenty of time for a comeback. Phelps would likely want to begin training before the end of the year, which would allow him to get into peak condition leading up to the next world championships in 2015, an important stepping stone for the Olympics.
After some sightseeing and promotional appearances, Phelps took in a second night of swimming in Barcelona before getting ready to head back to the US on Tuesday.
"I have no plans to do anything," Phelps said. "I love what I'm doing now. I'm able to travel so much, play golf. I'm on my schedule. I've never been able to do really whatever I want to do. I go wherever I want to go. I see whatever I want to see. It's nice waking up at 10, 11, 12 o'clock in the afternoon. I'm pretty lazy besides playing golf. I don't do much."
Phelps' competitive side showed after the US men lost in the 400m freestyle relay on Sunday. The Americans were edged at the finish by the French, a repeat of the Olympics when a team including Phelps also settled for silver.
"I was so fired up. We have enough guys on that team who can swim faster than that, and that was just frustrating for me to watch."
Not frustrating enough to announce his comeback - not yet anyway.
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