Phelps competes in Orlando without longtime coach Bowman

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Michael Phelps is accompanied by his pregnant fiance at this week’s Arena Pro Series meet.

Still, he’s feeling a bit lonely.

Phelps’ longtime coach, Bob Bowman, wasn’t able to attend the meet, which began Thursday in Orlando, Florida. He’s coaching Arizona State at the Pac-12 men’s championships in suburban Seattle.

The 30-year-old Phelps says “it’s kind of weird” but quickly adds, “If I can’t do it by myself, then I think we’ve got problems.”

When was the last time he competed without Bowman? Phelps thinks it was 2007 at the Missouri Grand Prix, where he set a world record in his lead-up to the Beijing Olympics.

Don’t expect that sort of performance in Orlando.

Phelps says jokingly, “You’re probably not going to see a repeat of that one.”