alt MICHAEL PHELPS (pictured) has got back into the pool today for the first time since he won a record eight Olympic gold medals in Beijing last year.

 

Fittingly, the scene of the return was Beijing, where he has been shooting a new commercial for Mazda.

 

The American used the Yingdon Natatorium, which staged the water polo during the Games in the Chinese capital.

 

He said: "My shape is non-existent right now.

"I'm far from being in shape, but I talked to my coach today, and Tuesday is the official day I start.
 
"Four months has been the longest time I've been away from the pool.
 
I know it will be a lot of pain for the first few months."
 
The Mazda shoot, part of a seven-figure deal which Phelps's representatives said was "the biggest for a Western celebrity" in China, saw the 14-times Olympic champion struggle after swimming butterfly for the first time in months.
 
During his visit to Beijing, Phelps visited the Water Cube, the scene of his record-breaking achievement where he surpassed Mark Spitz's seven gold medals won at the Munich Olympics in 1972.
 
Phelps said: "It was pretty cool, a pretty special feeling.
 
"I'm glad to have the opportunity to relive some of he moments that I had four months ago."
 
The long layoff, punctured by television appearances and charity events in between relaxing with friends and family, had not sapped the swimmer's motivation, nor had it completely banished thoughts of retirement.
 
He said: "It's been fun but I really want to get back into a normal regime and get some kind of structure back into my life.
 
"There are times where I will wake up and say to myself, 'I don't want to do this anymore.'
 
"But there are so many goals and times that I want to hit in events.
 
"I'm not going to retire until those are accomplished."
 
London 2012 is definitely on the horizon, Phelps promised, but there would be changes.
 
He said: "These four years are going to be much more relaxed than the last four years.
 
There will definitely be a lighter programme than what I did in Beijing.
 
"I think some backstroke is definitely in the mix, hopefully I can master the 100 free.
 
"I'm gonna try a few different events I haven't tried before."