SAN ANTONIO – The most decorated Olympic swimming champion of all time is in San Antonio this weekend. Michael Phelps is competing in the Phillips 66 National Championships at the new Northside ISD Swim Center.
Phelps has won a record 22 total medals and a record 18 gold medals.
He arrived in San Antonio and starting working out at the pool Tuesday and said he is impressed with the facilities.
"It just blows me away to see a high school pool like this. It's insane. It's incredible," Phelps said during a press conference after his Wednesday morning workout.
Phelps retired after the 2012 games. Then, 20 months later in 2014, he un-retired and is trying to make it all the way back to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next summer.
"I am just excited to swim. This is kind of what I was preparing for, really, the whole entire year," Phelps said.
This weekend is a very important step toward his goal as he will be competing in four events: the 200-meter butterfly, 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley and the 200-meter breaststroke.
"I am honestly excited to really just see where I am, see where I am right not and see what I have to change for next year," Phelps said.
Phelps said this weekend would be a test for him. He is trying to get back to his old way of swimming and competing.
"Kind of get back to where I was where it didn't matter who was in the pool, and it didn't matter who I was racing as long as I raced myself and pushed myself as hard as a could," Phelps said
One thing that might help that push -- he is losing the beard, gladly.
"(It's) something I am actually excited about. I guess a week or so ago I started really getting kind of annoyed by it. It's time for it to come off," Phelps said.