Legendary Olympian Michael Phelps retired from professional swimming at the conclusion of the 2012 London Olympic Games. He pulled out a gutsy performance and left the U.K. with another six medals, four of which were gold. Perhaps fatigue and a waning desire to continue swimming after doing so in four straight Olympics since Sydney in 2000 lead to Phelps's decision. Now a little over two-and-a-half years later Phelps is ramping up his herculean training regimen again.

Phelps is currently swimming five times a week, according to his longtime coach Bob Bowman. During an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Bowman remarked that Phelps "... looks like he is definitely in shape."

Bowman went on to say that "If he swims a meet in the next couple months and does well, he will probably give it a shot in Irvine." However, "he doesn't have to do that to have a shot at the 2016 Olympics."

Why is Irvine, Calif. significant? Well, it's hosting the 2014 U.S. Championships on August 6-10. Yet it's important to reiterate Bowman's message. Phelps's appearance at the meet will be contingent on whether he "does well" in an earlier competition.

All this talk about a comeback isn't exactly surprising. Last November, Phelps reentered the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency testing pool just in case he wanted to swim professionally again.

But if the "Pool Shark" is to return for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he'll be thirty years old. So if you're expecting Phelps to turn back the clock, think again. The sensational six-foot-four athlete would likely be swimming in "relays and shorter events," per the AFP. Still, adding to his record 18 gold medals and 22 overall medals must be pretty enticing. 

If you were Michael Phelps, what would you do. Would you ride off into the sunset and call it a career, or would you return to chase more Olympic gold? Let us know in the comments section below.