ROME, ITALY American Michael Phelps was honored as the outstanding male swimmer at the conclusion of eight days of competition at the Foro Italico world swimming championships; in total he received five golds and a silver. Phelps set two individual world records and competed on two relay teams that broke marks.
In his final event of the championships, Phelps swam the butterfly leg of the 400-meter medley relay; the U.S. pulled away from Germany and Australia to win in 3 minutes, 27.28 seconds, setting yet another new world record.
Phelps took six months off after his record setting run of eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, followed by a three-month suspension from competition after the infamous marijuana pipe photo. The lapse in competition was Phelps' longest layoff ever.
Rumor has it that when the ban against high tech, performance enhancing non-textile suits goes into effect Jan. 1 that Phelps will choose to compete in a suit made of all natural hemp, manufactured by potential new sponsor ThC.
