Phelps celebrates birthday by edging Lochte in 200 IM
Source: Agencies |
July 2, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
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MICHAEL Phelps celebrated his 27th birthday by beating his great rival Ryan Lochte in their penultimate showdown before the London Olympics on Saturday.
For the third time this week, the pair battled each other stroke-for-stroke at the United States Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska, this time in the 200 meters individual medley.
Lochte beat Phelps in the 400 individual medley on Monday but Phelps avenged that loss when he got his hand on the wall first, in a time of one minute 54.84 seconds.
"It feels good to be back on that (winning) side," Phelps told reporters.
"But I'm sure that's not going to be the end of us going back and forth."
Lochte, who had won the 200 backstroke final just 30 minutes before taking on the greatest Olympian of all time, was just 0.11 seconds behind, setting the stage for another epic duel in London when both men will be at their peak.
Phelps has already qualified for four events in London and looks certain to add a fifth after setting the fastest time in the semifinals of the 100 butterfly.
With the addition of the three relays, he will swim the same eight events he contested at Athens and Beijing.
Lochte also qualified for the 100 butterfly final after swimming three races in less than hour on Saturday.
The 27-year-old has already clinched his place in four events but unlike Phelps, is not assured of a place in all three relays.
"Tonight was probably the most pain I have endured in a swimming competition," Lochte said.
"Going back-to-back was definitely tough but I was up for the challenge and I've trained for it."
For the third time this week, the pair battled each other stroke-for-stroke at the United States Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska, this time in the 200 meters individual medley.
Lochte beat Phelps in the 400 individual medley on Monday but Phelps avenged that loss when he got his hand on the wall first, in a time of one minute 54.84 seconds.
"It feels good to be back on that (winning) side," Phelps told reporters.
"But I'm sure that's not going to be the end of us going back and forth."
Lochte, who had won the 200 backstroke final just 30 minutes before taking on the greatest Olympian of all time, was just 0.11 seconds behind, setting the stage for another epic duel in London when both men will be at their peak.
Phelps has already qualified for four events in London and looks certain to add a fifth after setting the fastest time in the semifinals of the 100 butterfly.
With the addition of the three relays, he will swim the same eight events he contested at Athens and Beijing.
Lochte also qualified for the 100 butterfly final after swimming three races in less than hour on Saturday.
The 27-year-old has already clinched his place in four events but unlike Phelps, is not assured of a place in all three relays.
"Tonight was probably the most pain I have endured in a swimming competition," Lochte said.
"Going back-to-back was definitely tough but I was up for the challenge and I've trained for it."
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