Michael Phelps returns to the pool on Sunday for his first international competition since becoming the most successful Olympian in history last year in Beijing.
The 24-year-old launches his campaign in Rome in the 4x100metres freestyle relay in what will be his fifth World Championships.
It has been a monumental 12 months for the Baltimore swimmer, characterised by the peak of winning eight gold medals in China but followed by the trough of being pictured in a British tabloid apparently smoking drugs.
An apology followed but USA Swimming imposed a three-month ban and Kellogg's failed to renew their endorsement.
The swimmer hit rock bottom and pondered his future, wondering whether to carry on in the sport.
Ultimately he made his choice and dedicated himself to the pool through to London 2012.
In Rome he will swim in six events - the 100metres and 200m butterfly, the 200m freestyle and three relays - as he looks to add to his tally of 20 World Championship medals, 17 of them gold.
Phelps said: "It has been a long year, good times, bad times, a lot of really high points and a lot of low points."
He added: "I always want to win.
"If I have the race I want to have and someone swims faster than me then so be it.
"When I come into a meet I have things I want to achieve and that is all I think about."
For now the swimmer merely wants to get back to the action, saying: "Yesterday I felt smooth in the water. I felt fast.
"When you are waiting to swim like now it feels like forever.
"I'm excited about my first race."
Phelps recently lowered Ian Crocker's 100m butterfly world record, but ominously added: "There's a lot of room for me to be where I want to be."
He also revealed he was still suffering from a neck problem which caused him to withdraw from the 100m free at the US trials, dismissing defending 100m champion Filippo Magnini's assertion he had "ducked" out.
Phelps added: "It was never an excuse as it was stated in the paper by one of the athletes.
"I actually wanted to swim that race."
Coach Bob Bowman, who is the US men's coach at the Foro Italico, said: "My job is to have Michael Phelps as fast as he can be."
The pair both welcomed yesterday's decision by FINA to return to textile suits although the ruling will not apply to next week's competition, when many predict every world record to be under threat.
Speedo opened the door when they introduced the LZR Racer in February 2008 since when 135 world records have fallen and the Foro Italico will be awash with polyurethane suits.
The French men dominate the freestyle.
Fred Bousquet became the first man under 21 seconds for the 50m free when he clocked 20.94secs while four of the top six in the 100m are occupied by the French.
Oussama Mellouli has been tipped to break Grant Hackett's world record in the 1,500m free.
The Tunisian was stripped of his medals at the 2007 Worlds in Melbourne after failing a drugs test.
Federica Pellegrini is one of the faces of the competition and will have home support as she looks to avenge the disappointment of the 400m freestyle in Beijing.
The Italian was hot favourite for the gold but got her tactics wrong in the final and not only was she beaten to the title by Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain, she finished outside the medals.
Another Briton, Jo Jackson, then claimed her world record although the 20-year-old reclaimed it last month to add to her record in the 200m free.
Triple Olympic champion Stephanie Rice will renew her rivalry with Kirsty Coventry in the individual medley races with Briton Hannah Miley a threat after a superb year and Libby Trickett goes head to head with double Olympic champion Britta Steffen in the shorter freestyle events.
The 24-year-old launches his campaign in Rome in the 4x100metres freestyle relay in what will be his fifth World Championships.
It has been a monumental 12 months for the Baltimore swimmer, characterised by the peak of winning eight gold medals in China but followed by the trough of being pictured in a British tabloid apparently smoking drugs.
An apology followed but USA Swimming imposed a three-month ban and Kellogg's failed to renew their endorsement.
The swimmer hit rock bottom and pondered his future, wondering whether to carry on in the sport.
Ultimately he made his choice and dedicated himself to the pool through to London 2012.
In Rome he will swim in six events - the 100metres and 200m butterfly, the 200m freestyle and three relays - as he looks to add to his tally of 20 World Championship medals, 17 of them gold.
Phelps said: "It has been a long year, good times, bad times, a lot of really high points and a lot of low points."
He added: "I always want to win.
"If I have the race I want to have and someone swims faster than me then so be it.
"When I come into a meet I have things I want to achieve and that is all I think about."
For now the swimmer merely wants to get back to the action, saying: "Yesterday I felt smooth in the water. I felt fast.
"When you are waiting to swim like now it feels like forever.
"I'm excited about my first race."
Phelps recently lowered Ian Crocker's 100m butterfly world record, but ominously added: "There's a lot of room for me to be where I want to be."
He also revealed he was still suffering from a neck problem which caused him to withdraw from the 100m free at the US trials, dismissing defending 100m champion Filippo Magnini's assertion he had "ducked" out.
Phelps added: "It was never an excuse as it was stated in the paper by one of the athletes.
"I actually wanted to swim that race."
Coach Bob Bowman, who is the US men's coach at the Foro Italico, said: "My job is to have Michael Phelps as fast as he can be."
The pair both welcomed yesterday's decision by FINA to return to textile suits although the ruling will not apply to next week's competition, when many predict every world record to be under threat.
Speedo opened the door when they introduced the LZR Racer in February 2008 since when 135 world records have fallen and the Foro Italico will be awash with polyurethane suits.
The French men dominate the freestyle.
Fred Bousquet became the first man under 21 seconds for the 50m free when he clocked 20.94secs while four of the top six in the 100m are occupied by the French.
Oussama Mellouli has been tipped to break Grant Hackett's world record in the 1,500m free.
The Tunisian was stripped of his medals at the 2007 Worlds in Melbourne after failing a drugs test.
Federica Pellegrini is one of the faces of the competition and will have home support as she looks to avenge the disappointment of the 400m freestyle in Beijing.
The Italian was hot favourite for the gold but got her tactics wrong in the final and not only was she beaten to the title by Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain, she finished outside the medals.
Another Briton, Jo Jackson, then claimed her world record although the 20-year-old reclaimed it last month to add to her record in the 200m free.
Triple Olympic champion Stephanie Rice will renew her rivalry with Kirsty Coventry in the individual medley races with Briton Hannah Miley a threat after a superb year and Libby Trickett goes head to head with double Olympic champion Britta Steffen in the shorter freestyle events.
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