Michael Phelps, one of the best athletes in the world, has dismissed the possiblity of competing in the pool again. However, he will be competing in the felt against some of the world’s most talented poker players at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

So far, he has not cashed in his first tourney, a $5000 NLHE event, but he has plenty of time to rise tot he challenge since the WSOP will run through July 15th. In an interview with Card Player, Phelps said: “It’s kind of weird, I wasn’t even going to play (the first event). I just wanted to come over and see everything and somehow these guys talked me into playing. Antonio Esfandiari and Jeff Gross told me we should just throw in a buy-in and see what happens at your first World Series event.”

Phelp is no stranger to the poker tables. He has played in other important but smaller tournaments like the Caesar’s Palace Classic where he made it to the final table cashing in over $5000.