ATLANTA (AP) — The U.S. team for Duel in the Pool will include Olympic gold medalists Ryan Lochte and Natalie Coughlin but not Michael Phelps.
USA Swimming announced the 36-member team Thursday. The Americans will face a European squad in the Dec. 16-17 meet at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, where swimming was held during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Phelps, the 14-time Olympic gold medalist, will not participate in the meet because it doesn’t fit his schedule. Coach Bob Bowman says Phelps will be returning home to Baltimore to work out after meets in Moscow, Berlin and Minneapolis, as well as altitude training in Colorado.
Other Olympians on the American team include gold medalists Amanda Beard, Brendan Hansen, Rebecca Soni and Dana Vollmer, as well as rising star Missy Franklin.
