Michael Phelps: Decorated Swimmer Will Triumph in Olympic Swan Song

Michael Phelps' swimming career isn't over yet. He is set to retire after London's Olympics, but Phelps has one great performance left in the tank.

He needs three medals in this year's games to retire with the most medals ever for an Olympic athlete. He's tough to out-perform on a normal day, but he will be impossible to stop with that final goal in mind.

This isn't the Phelps we saw in Athens in 2004 or Beijing in 2008. He has peers capable of chasing him down, and Ryan Lochte has showed that throughout the swimming circuit this season. He defeated Phelps in the World Championships and hasn't backed down at this year's Olympic trials.

At this point in his career, Phelps needs someone like Lochte to push him. It's only going to make him better. Younger athletes keep older athletes in shape all the time in team sports and this isn't any different.

Phelps' ultra-competitive attitude will take over in London. He has proven himself as the world's best at what he does and he doesn't want that claim to seem doubtful. He's well aware of Lochte's talent, youth and momentum. The obstacles aren't hard to see.

This year's Olympics are Phelps' final chances to etch his name deeper into its history. He's on the verge of entering uncharted territory as he inches closer to 19 career medals.

If Lochte wasn't around to push Phelps one last time, I don't think Phelps would perform well. It would be too "ho-hum" for his world-class prestige, but now there's more on the line. Phelps wants to go out as the world's best swimmer, but he doesn't want to leave people wondering if he was the United States' best swimmer when he left.

Expect Phelps to race with a sense of urgency in London. History is on the line, but his pride will push him through each finish line.