Jordan first, Phelps next

Michael Phelps is training again. Michael Jordan has done it before. 

The 22-time Olympic medalist will compete in a meet in Mesa, Arizona on April 24-26, where he is entered in three events - the 50- and 100-meter freestyles and the 100 butterfly. Whether or not he swims at the Short Course Worlds, to be held in Doha, Qatar on December 2014, or the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, in Gold Coast, Australia on August 21-25, remains to be seen. What is certain is he'll attempt to qualify for his fifth Olympic appearance in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016. Bob Bowman, the swimmer's longtime coach, said that it wouldn't be a full-fledged comeback.

''He's gotten back into good shape since September,'' the coach said. ''He can give a good effort and certainly not be embarrassed. He's in enough shape to swim competitively.''

Expect swimming to be in the top of the news, with Phelps testing the waters again, as Bowman puts it. Don't be surprised if the native of Maryland will aim for more titles - and records. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, Phelps attempted to break Mark Spitz's record for a single Olympics by entering in eight events. He came close, with six golds. He achieved the feat at the 2008 Games in Beijing, China. At the 2012 Games in London, Phelps became the first male swimmer to win the same event in three consecutive Olympics. At the World Aquatics Championships, a biennial event, the swimmer's record was no less impressive. He won seven gold medals at the 2007 Worlds in Melbourne, Australia. At the 2009 Worlds in Rome, Italy, Phelps became the first swimmer to complete the 100-meter butterfly under 50 seconds, beating Serbia's Milorad ÄŒavić, whom he narrowly edged in the same event in Beijing. 

Phelps's legacy won't be diminished in case he fails to win a medal in Rio. After all, he holds the record for Olympic gold medals (18) and Olympic gold medals in individual events (11). In fact, many will follow his moves, expecting to see the spark that turned him into the most decorated swimmer of all time. Jessica Hardy, who won twenty-six medals in major international competition, said many swimmers were surprised by Phelps's comeback.

''He kept it pretty much under wraps,'' she said. ''Even if he's not at peak performance, it's great for the sport and each athlete particularly to keep learning from him. I don't think anyone wants to put pressure on him. He's accomplished everything you pretty much can. It's just great to see what else you can do.''

Phelps is also entered in meets in Charlotte, North Carolina on May and Santa Clara, California on June. If he takes part and the results turn out to be good, then he can compete at the U.S. National Championships on August. Next year's Worlds in Kazan, Russia may be next.  

''He's really doing this because he wants to - there's no outside pressure at all,'' Bowman said.