Michael Phelps has repeatedly stated his Olympic swimming career is over.
But after a record haul of 18 gold medals and 22 medals overall, is the most decorated Olympian of all time making a comeback?
A report by WBBH-TV, an NBC affiliate in Fort Myers, Fla., stated Phelps was planning to return to competitive swimming with an eye to try and qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The report was posted by news anchor Peter Busch, the son of Frank Busch, who is director of the U.S. national swim team. The WBBH report said Phelps "had a change of heart recently" in trying to make a comeback.
Phelps wrote back via Twitter following the report, but didn't flatly deny he's staying retired at the age of 27.
"Why do I keep getting texts about coming back?," Phelps wrote. "Do (people) really believe everything they hear or read? There are (too) many (people) in the world that think they have a 'story.'"
Peter Busch fired back on Twitter.
"Phelps just sent tweet insinuating that he's not coming back, but I feel very confident with my info. Guess we'll see," he said.
A comeback by Phelps was also rumored by Casey Barrett of CapandGoggles.com.
Phelps announced his retirement after the 2012 Summer Olympics in London where he won four golds and a pair of silver medals.
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