Phelps to compete at US Winter Nationals

Washington - Michael Phelps, winner of a record 18 Olympic gold medals, will continue his quest to reach the Rio Games at the US Winter Swim Nationals next week.

Phelps, Missy Franklin and Natalie Coughlin are among the Olympic champions expected at the meet, set for December 3-5 at King County Aquatic Centre in Federal Way, Washington.

More than 40 US national team swimmers are among about 700 set to compete, but most eyes will be upon Phelps, who was named US Swimming's male athlete of the year despite not competing at the World Championships in Russia.

A second drunk-driving arrest in 2014 led to Phelps being removed from the US worlds team, leaving him to swim at the US nationals in Texas, where he won the 100 and 200 butterfly crowns with the fastest times in the world this year and took the 200 individual medley as well.

"I can't tell you how happy I am to feel like me again," said Phelps, who announced last week that he and his fiancée are expecting a baby next year before the Rio Olympics.

Phelps has won 22 Olympic medals, including a record eight golds at the Beijing Games as well as six in Athens in 2004 and four in London in 2012. With an Olympic debut at age 15 as a 200m butterfly finalist in Sydney, Phelps seeks his fifth Olympic appearance next year. He turns 31 next June.