ROME (Reuters) - Michael Phelps was so relaxed about the threat from rivals with faster swimsuits that he could afford a mid-afternoon doze at the world championships on Friday.
The Rome showpiece starts on Sunday and although governing body FINA is poised to ban new hi-tech suits from 2010, the controversy will rage on next week with some swimmers using costumes which could prompt quicker times than others.
Phelps, who glided to a record eight gold medals at last year's Beijing Olympics, will use the Speedo LZR suit which was the first of the new generation of costumes but has now been usurped by the likes of Jaked's all-polyurethane suit.
"If I have the race I want to have and someone swims faster than me, so be it," the 24-year-old told a news conference having explained his slightly slow responses.
"I'm kinda out of it right now, I kinda woke up from a nap on the bus."
The American, who will only race in three individual events in Rome -- the 200 metres freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly -- said he could not name a rival he especially feared.
Phelps's confidence springs from his spectacular return to action at the recent U.S. trials in Indianapolis where he smashed the 100 butterfly world record.
It also confirmed he was back to full fitness after a six month layoff following Beijing that included a three-month suspension from USA Swimming for being photographed inhaling from a pipe used for smoking marijuana.
"I haven't prepared the best way by taking six months break but we did the best we could," he said. "It's been a long year. Lots of high points. Lots of low points."
Phelps, who had a slight neck problem at the trials, has his eyes fixed on another big race away from the worlds.
He is due to swim against giant basketball player Shaquille O'Neal for reality television.
"We haven't decided anything really...like how big a head start I'm going to give him," he smirked.
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