Michael Phelps sparks comeback rumors after posting 'training' photo with long-time coach

Michael Phelps posted a photograph online of himself training with his long-time coach, fueling rumors he could be planning a comeback.

The image, which the Olympian uploaded to his Instagram account on Monday, shows him by the pool at the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center in Baltimore with his old swimming coach, Bob Bowman.

"One on one training session with @coach_bowman!!!" he wrote beneath the photograph.

The posting had fans flocking to the page to share their excitement at a possible comeback, demanding to know if the champion would be returning to the Olympic pool in Rio in 2016 in spite of his retirement last year.

But speaking to Swimming World, Bowman insisted that the photos were only for a photo shoot with one of Phelps' sponsors, believed to be Speedo, rather than a training session.

It is not the first time there have been rumors surrounding a possible return.

The 27-year-old Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history with 22 medals including 18 golds, hung up his swimming goggles immediately after The London Games last summer.

But last month, it was reported that Phelps is planning to return to swimming with the intention of competing in the Olympics in Rio in 2016.

"The greatest Olympian of all time isn't hanging up his swimsuit, after all," wrote reporter Peter Busch, who is the son of Frank Busch, director of the U.S. national swim team.

While Phelps did not outright deny the comeback, he downplayed the article.

"Why do I keep getting texts about coming back?" he tweeted. "Do [people] really believe everything they hear or read? There are [too] many [people] in the world that think they have a story."

Busch stood by his report. "Guess we'll see," he tweeted.

Either way, Phelps still looks likje he's in Olympic shape.