When the great Olympian Michael Phelps made his comeback from a two-year retirement at last year's Pan Pacs on the Gold Coast, it seemed like the start of another run at the greatest show of them all.
Instead, it proved to be a false start. A month later, when he returned to America, Phelps was suspended for six months by USA Swimming after being arrested for drink driving.
Now he's back again, this time at the Mesa Pro Series meeting in Phoenix, Arizona where he resumed with a win in the 100-metre butterfly, the first step towards the Rio Olympics in 2016, where he will seek to add to his astonishing medal tally of 22 (18 of them gold).
"It does feel good to be back," said Phelps, who has been axed from the US squad for this year's World Championships in Russia on account of his latest infringement and a trip to rehab.
Phelps has won the 100m fly at three Olympics and would beat great rival Ryan Lochte with his time of 52.38, serviceable if not in the top 10 swum so far this year.
That would matter little given he won't be swimming in Kazan and will tailor all of his training under coach Bob Bowman towards what would surely be a final Olympic tilt in Brazil.
"It's amazing just to be in this environment again," Phelps said. "First race back, it's OK. Hopefully we'll be able to build and build. I think the more I race and feel confident with it, we can go out and control things."
Meanwhile, superstar teenager Katie Ledecky - already an Olympic and multiple world champion at just 18 years of age - has expanded her program to four freestyle events (possibly seven all-up including relays) in Rio, where she stands to be the most dominant force of the meet.
The reigning World Swimmer of the Year will attempt to make the team in her pet distance events of 400m and 800m as well as the shorter 100m and 200m events, which may spell danger for Australian world champion sprinter Cate Campbell.
Ledecky has said the shorter events help her longer races, which will no doubt remain her main focus. But given she smashes world records for fun, few would dare to suggest she couldn't make her presence felt down in distance.
