Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman backs Olympic champ to win more medals

London – US Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps’ long-term coach Bob Bowman has said that the champion can challenge for medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics if he decides to return to the sport.

According to the BBC, Bowman revealed Phelps signed up for drug testing in May, which would make him eligible for competition in March 2014.

Bowman coached Phelps for 16 years, beginning when the 18-time Olympic medallist was only 11 years old, and their time together included Beijing 2008 when Phelps claimed eight gold medals, the most ever recorded in a single Games by an individual, the report said.

Following those achievements Phelps occasionally struggled with motivation upon his return to the sport in 2010, the report added.

Bowman admitted Phelps had not put in enough distance training for the London Olympics after the American could only finish fourth in the defence of his 400m individual medley crown, the report further said.

While excited about the prospect of Phelps making a comeback and appearing at a fifth Olympics, Bowman is also urging caution, according to the report.

Phelps made his Olympic debut in Sydney in 2000 as a 15-year-old and won six golds and two bronze medals in Athens, followed by a historic eight gold medals in Beijing, the report mentioned.