Phelps vague about future

Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain

When Michael Phelps walked away from swimming after the London Olympics, he was adamant about one thing: His career was over.

Now, it sounds like he’s not so sure.

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 winningest athlete in Olympic history — Phelps left the door open to change his mind before the 2016 Rio Games.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future,” Phelps said Monday. “I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

In Barcelona for the world swimming championships, Phelps spoke to The Associated Press and other international media organizations in a series of one-on-one interviews set up by his sponsor, Speedo. When asked by the AP, yes or no, whether he’ll compete at the next Olympics, Phelps coyly 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 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.

Phelps certainly isn’t training at the moment. He jammed the small toe of his right foot on the edge of a sofa while at home in Baltimore, and aggravated the injury when he played in a golf tournament at Lake Tahoe.

He’s wearing a boot cast on his foot while in Barcelona to cope with a small stress fracture.

After some sightseeing and promotional appearances, Phelps took in a second night of swimming at the Palau Sant Jordi before getting ready to head back to the U.S. on Tuesday. He was accompanied by his new girlfriend, Golf Channel reporter Win McMurry.

“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 have that. 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.”