Eight-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md. / Club Wolverine) will also swim in his first meet of the new year in preparation for the FINA World Championships, March 18-April 1 in Melbourne, Australia. Sixteen World Championship team members will continue their preparation in Long Beach for the trip to Melbourne, considered the top international swimming competition in the world outside of the Olympic Games. This meet is the best indicator of the stars to watch in 2008.

The 31-year-old Krayzelburg, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, returned to the pool in the fall of 2006 after taking a break following the 2004 Olympic Games. The Southern California product had shoulder surgery after Athens, but a return to competitive training was in part inspired by his twin daughters, Alexa and Daniela, who were born in 2005.

Adding to the talented field are five-time Olympic gold-medalist Natalie Coughlin (Vallejo, Calif. / Cal Aquatics) and the world-record trio from Texas: Aaron Peirsol (Irvine, Calif. / Longhorn), Brendan Hansen (Havertown, Pa. / Longhorn) and Ian Crocker (Portland, Maine / Longhorn). Local Olympic gold medalist Kaitlin Sandeno (Lake Forest, Calif. / Club Wolverine) is also expected to compete, in addition to Olympic individual medalists Ryan Lochte, Erik Vendt, Klete Keller and Allison Wagner.

A limited number of All-Session Passes for the Long Beach Grand Prix are available for $25. Tickets for prelims are $5, and finals tickets are $10. Follow the link to purchase advance tickets by printing out the form online.