Phelps Threatens to Boycott All Events Where Competitors Refuse to Lose

Rome, Italy--

Michael Phelps' coach said the 14-time Olympic gold medalist may not swim in any races where the other swimmers refuse to guarantee Phelps will win.

"Michael Phelps is the best swimmer in the world; everyone will ackowledge that," said Bob Bowman. "It is pointless for Michael to get into the pool unless that reality is proved in the end."

At these 2009 World Championships, Phelps lost a final in a major international event for the first time since 2005.

"While I suppose it's technically possible that the distractions involved with Michael's legal troubles in February and the resulting three month suspension might have resulted in him not being at the apex of his capabilities," Bowman said, "Michael should always win gold."

"And don't give me any of that crap about how Michael could have worn the same suit as the swimmer who beat him," Bowman continued, "Michael has sponsors who count on him wearing their suits. The other swimmer should have either worn Michael's suit or just slowed down."

Mark Spitz, the swimmer with the most gold medals in a single Olympics prior to Phelps, said when asked to comment, "Crazy Seventies moustache and long hair; let's see how Phelps swims like that."