Michael Phelps at Rome Swimming World Championships

Michael Phelps is at peak fitness and has a closet full of new tiny swim suits and they are both going on a trip. Phelps is taking his speedo swim suit and he is getting on a plane to Italia.

Swimming star Michael Phelps also has a secret and he is taking it to the pool. Phelps already has 14 Olympic and 17 world championship gold medals in his collection but he wants more.

According to the wearer of the smallest swim suit known to mankind, he has unfinished biz at the swimming world championships which start this Sunday. The nature of this unfinished business is a secret known only to Phelps and his coach. Beloved Debbie Phelps is not privy to what his specific swimming goals might be. Apparently throughout his fabulous swimming career, Michael jots down his goals and mails them to his coach. His coach then helps him reach his goals.

"When I retire I want to be able to look back at my career and say I did everything I wanted to do," Michael said at the recent U.S. world trials. "I still have times I want to hit, I still have other personal goals I want to achieve before I quit the sport. I've been writing my goals on a piece of paper and mailing them to Bob for 13 years now."

I suppose that Phelps fans everywhere might get a glimpse at his new swimming goals at the end of this month. At the world championships Phelps will focus on the shorter swimming events as he continues his transformation from an all-rounder swimmer to sprinter.

At the 2007 world championships in swimming, Phelps took home seven gold medals. Now he appears to be working part time. This time around he has set himself much more modest, even leisurely, objectives. In Rome he will swim in only three individual events -- the 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 200m butterfly.

There were rumors that swim suit clad Michael Phelps lacked motivation following his record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games. There were also rumours that he had been reckless with his fitness regime. He smashed those rumours in epic fashion at the U.S. Swim Nationals by destroying the 100 butterfly world record.

His display at the U.S. Swim Nationals confirmed he was back to full fitness after a six month layoff the Beijing Olympic Games. Sadly, that hiatus included a three-month suspension from USA Swimming when he was snapped inhaling from a bong.

During his time away from swimming Phelps gained nearly seven kilograms or 15.5 pounds and contemplated an early retirement. It was good news to all of us when he decided to seek more gold and glory (and sponsorship money) at the 2012 London Olympics.

Fingers are crossed for Phelps to be at peak fitness in the coming weeks. I will be sure to watch Phelps and his tiny swim suit as he swims his way to glory at the Rome World Championships.