How momentous? The governing body of swimming, FINA, broke with Olympic protocol to present Phelps with an award recognizing his entire body of work. While a video montage played on the board, he made one more victory lap around the pool, even stopping off again at the medal podium he spent so much time on during the Olympics. "Wow," he said. "I couldn't ask to finish on a better note." Phelps kept a journal during his last Olympics. He was asked what he would write in it on this day. "I could probably sum it up in a couple words -- I did it," he said. "I haven't written too much this week. I'm kind of taking everything in." One of the moments he'll remember: All the swimmers from the other relay tea***ining up to shake his hand behind the blocks once he was done. "It's kind of cool," Phelps said. "The best part of the Olympics is you have people coming from all over the world competing in the best sporting event ever. That's just something you don't see every day." We may never see the likes of Phelps again. Of course, he was peppered with questions about a possible comeback, in a year when Ian Thorpe and Janet Evans both failed in their attempts to make it back to the Olympics after long layoffs. "I don't think so," Bowman said. "We've had a great end to a great run and there's not much more he can do. I guess if he finds after a few years he's searching for something and thinks he can find it in swimming, he could look at it. But I don't think he will. I think he's ready to explore other things. He's done all he can do here." This night was all about a fitting farewell for Phelps. He and his relay mates unfurled a banner that said, "Thank You London." The crowd said thank you right back, chanting "Michael! Michael! Michael!" Later, as Phelps was getting up to leave one news conference and hustle off to another one, the other three American swimmers were asked if they thought he would really stay retired. Phelps wouldn't even let them answer, saying very emphatically, "Yes! Yes!" "I'm sure he's going to be around," Grevers said, "but not in the pool where we like him best." Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.