Swimming: Phelps skips Olympic prep meet
US swimming star Michael Phelps has withdrawn from a meeting in Atlanta next week.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - US swimming star Michael Phelps has withdrawn from a meeting in Atlanta next week he had been planning to use as part of his preparations for the Olympics, organizers have confirmed.
A statement on the May 13-15 Atlanta Classic Swim Meet website said Phelps had informed them he would no longer be taking part.
"We understand some of you may have purchased tickets to see Michael Phelps. He is no longer able to attend," organizers said.
US media reports said Phelps was skipping the meet in order to be with his fiance Nicole Johnson, who is expecting the birth of his first son.
Phelps, 30, retired from swimming after the London 2012 games before returning to competition in 2014.
He aims to compete in his fifth Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August after appearances in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London, where he amassed a record 18 gold medals.
