The Olympic excitement surrounding USA swimming star Michael Phelps is alive again. He got the full rock star treatment when he sat down for the team’s pre-Games press conference at the Main Media Centre on Thursday. The American even drew more questions than did International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge.

The 27-year-old Phelps has vowed to try and enjoy himself at his final Olympics, soaking up the atmosphere and spending more time with other athletes.

But his laid-back approach does not mean that he is any less motivated.

Michael Phelps, USA Swimmer, said, "I mean I think it’s going to be very challenging. That’s why I’ve just been sitting around. I’m the only one in the Common room during the day. If I’m not napping, I hook the computer up to the TV and just blast through episodes of The Wire or another TV show or some kind of movie that I’ve been watching. So I’m trying to relax as much as I can and like I said yesterday, I have had a lot of moments where I don’t know if I would say I get choked up, but I can be more emotional because they are the last competitive moments that I’ll have in my career. You know it’s big. It’s something that I haven’t been able to ever experience so I think that there are going to be a lot of firsts and a lot of lasts this week and I think that over the last couple of years, I guess throughout my career, I’ve been able to manage my emotional energy fairly well and with the help from Bob (Bowman), I’ve been able to learn how to contain it a little. I won’t be holding back when I’m at the pool, when I’m in the venue, but when I am away, I’m just trying to relax as much as I can."

Phelps and his team mate Ryan Lochte will match up head to head in the 400 meter individual medley tomorrow.

But anyone looking for some spice from Lochte, regarding Phelps, was disappointed.

Ryan Lochte, USA Swimmer, said, "I mean, I’m friends with everyone. I don’t really have any enemies so I can really say he’s (Phelps) my enemy. I mean he’s my competitor. Me and him we’ve created a great rivalry but at the same time, we’ve created a great friendship and no matter win or lose, after the race, we’re still going to be friends and I hope it stays that way."

The USA’s Missy Franklin is making her Olympic debut as a teenager, swimming in several races. She is due to compete in seven altogether.

Missy Franklin, USA Swimmer, said, "It’s definitely hard. This week has been so exciting, going to France for the first time and then being in my first Village setting in a meeting, my first Olympics. It’s been so much fun. The day we first got here and had all of our uniforming, I was literally going off the walls. I was running around and giving everyone hugs. It’s definitely hard to control that energy but I think that I need to do that and keep that energy conserved for when it really matters which is right before I race."

The 17-year-old said she hopes to shine a positive light on her home state of Colorado with her Olympic performances.

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