Phelps considered quitting but now ready to return

MICHAEL Phelps is set to make his return to the pool this weekend for his first competitive race since the Beijing Olympics, but the record-breaking swimmer admitted he was nearly gone for good.

BACK IN THE HABIT: Record-breaking swimmer Michael Phelps ready to get back in the water after his three-month ban for dope-smoking ran out yesterday (Getty Images)

Phelps was served with a three-month ban in February by US Swimming after photographs of the 23-year-old were published, appearing to show him smoking cannabis from a bong.

The Baltimore Bullet, who took his Olympic gold medal tally to 14, courtesy of the eight he picked up in Beijing, will make his return to competitive action in Carolina next week.

But Phelps revealed his extended break from the water nearly prompted him to bring his career to a premature end.

"I wrote out the pros and cons of swimming and quitting," he said. "There were days when I would say ‘I'm not feeling it' and if I didn't feel like go to training I would stay in bed and watch TV.

"But then I asked myself ‘what am I even thinking about quitting?' There was no way I was going to retire at 23 - I still have four more years and things I still want to accomplish."

When Phelps dips his toe back in the water, he will only compete in two of the eight events in which he captured gold in the Water Cube last August - the 200m freestyle and the 200m butterfly.

And the 17-time world champion revealed he has no major expectations ahead of his return.

"I'm getting back into racing shape and we'll see how it goes," he added.  

"But I have no idea what to expect in the meet. I'm going in open-minded but I'm feeling good in the water and swimming some decent times in practice."