WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. swimming star Michael Phelps will be involved in the business operation of a swimming club in his hometown, Baltimore, Maryland, a founder said on Tuesday.

Michael Phelps of the United States smiles during the awarding ceremony of the Men's 4X100M Medlay Relay final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. Phelps won his eighth gold medal at the Beijing Olympics swimming events on Sunday, breaking Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals won at a single Games in 1972. (Xinhua/Chen Kai)  Photo Gallery>>>

    Phelps will resume business talks with the North Baltimore Aquatic Club after he returns from Beijing, China, where he has won eight golds for the U.S., said the club founder, Murray Stephens.

    He told NBC in an interview that the 23-year-old athlete and his coach, Bob Bowman, had developed business plans after they return to Baltimore.

    "We want Bob and Michael to be involved in helping the swimming program grow. The what and how of these things have not been finalized at all."

    Stephens also said that it could take months to work out all details of any business agreement.

    Phelps earlier confirmed the plan with the TV, saying "Bob and I are starting up a new business back in Baltimore with the pool that we just bought, so we're going to make some adjustments and see what we can do to take that sport to the next level."

    The two spent the past four years in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Phelps went to the University of Michigan and Bowman served as a head swimming coach there.

    The Michigan men's swimming team announced in April that Bowman was leaving for Maryland to be a coach in the North Baltimore Aquatic Club.

Michael Phelps says learning Chinese harder than winning gold

    BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The American superfish Michael Phelps who took eight golds at the Olympics has said it is harder for him to learn the Chinese language than to win gold medals, the English newspaper China Daily said on Wednesday.

    "Learning Mandarin is even harder than winning eight gold medals in the pool," the 23-year-old American was quoted by the daily as saying. "It is the hardest thing I've ever tried in my life."  Full story