Michael Phelps' presence lingers at Olympic swimming trials 5 years after his last race

He has been gone from his sport since the last Olympics, five years ago in Rio, when he won the final six of his 28 overall medals, ensuring his place in history as the most decorated Olympian of all time.But here, on the eve of the trials, it sinks in: For the first time since a previous century, for the first time since 1996, the U.S. Olympic trials are being held without the best swimmer to ever dive into a pool.The last time Phelps was not swimming in the U.S. trials, Bill Clinton was president — in his first term.Phelps initially competed at the trials as a 15-year-old in 2000, becoming the youngest male swimmer to make a U.S. Olympic team in 68 years. I never really had too many role models just within the sport itself, but of course Michael was the guy to watch.”That said, while the swimmers here revere Phelps, they already have been without him for nearly five years of national and international competition outside of the Olympic trials and Summer Games.“I think we feel like we’re part of a really special team and we have accomplished a lot over the past five years since Michael retired,” said Katie Ledecky, a standout in Rio who is once again expected to dominate her events at the trials.