Michael Phelps withdraws his participation from the 2011 Pan American Games – Swimming News
Michael Phelps, 14-time Olympic gold medallist, has withdrawn his participation from the 2011 Pan American Games that are schedule to take place in Guadalajara, Mexico from October 14-31.
Phelps, who is the biggest American sports star, will not compete in multi-sports international event instead, he has confirmed his participation at the fourth leg of 2011 Swimming World Cup in Berlin.
Pan American Games is an Olympic like event, which comes every fourth year. These Games involve more than 600 athletes, who try to prove their mettle in their respective sports.
Phelps, who won eight gold medals in 2008 Beijing Olympics, was likely to make a splash by proving his dominance in swimming events but unfortunately, the American changed his mind.
Phelps earned six gold medals and two bronze medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics while he captured eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In Beijing, he proved his supremacy in the events of 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m Individual Medley (IM), 400m IM, 200m freestyle and the three relay events.
Secretary General to USA Olympic Committee, Scott Blackmun said, "At the end of the day, I think the scheduling of these games was a little bit more challenging than normal just because it was October instead of the summer.”
Blackmun also said that majority of the teams at Pan American Games are comprised of collegiate athletes. He raised his concern saying that interest of elite swimmers seems to be eliminating from the Pan American Games and the probable reason for this could be the occurrence of World Championship, World Cups and other international events.
Nevertheless, the American veteran has finalised his schedule and he will defend his titles in Berlin from October 22-23. The event also involves heavy participation from the Australian and Canadian squads, who have ensured their participations in the European legs of the World Cup Series.
Phelps, who failed to make a splash in his main events in 2011 World Championship, has been preparing hard and seems confident to astonish the aquatic crowd at Berlin.
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