Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps Is Kinda, Sorta, Maybe Un-Retiring

American Olympian Michael Phelps, who wins all the medals—22 of them to be exact—made a pretty big to-do of announcing his retirement following the completion of the swimming competition at the 2012 Olympics in London.

At the time there was a lot of talk that perhaps he was a bit underprepared for at least one of his events, suggesting his heart may longer be in the sport, which made the news a bit more palatable.

Though few, if any, questioned whether or not Phelps could still compete at the highest level and easily make a go of it at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but he just didn’t see himself still doing it in his 30s. Sure it was a disappointment to see him walk away, but far too few athletes have walked away while still on top.

Well, now we can count Phelps among athletes who haven’t walked away while still on top. Though he’s been hinting for awhile that his retirement may be less than permanent, it became official on Monday—kind of official.

Bob Bowman, Phelps’ longtime coach, told the AP that the swimmer will compete in three events—the 50-and 100-meter freestyles and the 100 butterfly—at the meet in Mesa, Ariz., later this month. It’s the first time he’s competed since the London Olympics.

Then, as quick as Bowman dropped the bomb, he tried to pick it back up, which almost never works. Said the coach, “I think he’s just going to test the waters a little bit and see how it goes. I wouldn’t say it’s a full-fledged comeback.”

Way to let the air out of the tires, bro.

Bowman talked up Phelps, while tempering expectations—good strategy since apparently he’s “pretty far” from being in top form. Said Bowman, “He’s gotten back into good shape since September. He can give a good effort and certainly not be embarrassed. He’s in enough shape to swim competitively.”

Not for nothing, but this has to be the most annoying “comeback” since Brett Favre. Phelps comes across lazy and attention-starved. Either he wants to come back or he doesn’t. This hedging his bets nonsense is so far beneath an athlete of his caliber—at least it should be.