Phelps wins 100 fly, loses 100 freestyle
Source: Agencies |
June 19, 2011, Sunday
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MICHAEL Phelps continued his inconsistent year on Friday, easily winning the 100-meter butterfly but finishing second in the 100 freestyle at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix in California.
The 14-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder finished ahead Australia's Nicholas D'Arcy and American Davis Tarwater in the butterfly race.
"The fly I felt good. I was able to connect my stroke a little bit more and get my hips into it," Phelps said. "At the end of the day, I was kind of bummed about the finish. I thought I was kind of long on the finish. But it's a good time. I can't really complain. I feel like I had a lot of pop on the first 50 than I did earlier in the year. So I think that's a lot better."
The strong showing in one of Phelps' signature events was overshadowed only by a slow start in his only other race of the night.
Phelps nearly chased down Park Tae-hwan of South Korea in the 100 free before finishing a close second.
"I couldn't get into it," Phelps said. "I couldn't run him down."
Santa Clara is the last stop on USA Swimming's grand prix series and the final tuneup for next month's world championships in Shanghai.
The 100 free was not one of the events Phelps raced en route to a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The addition is one of a few small changes Phelps is trying to make as he grows older - at least by swimming standards. He turns 26 at the end of the month.
With the world championships looming in Shanghai next month, everybody is aiming for maximum output. Ryan Lochte, Phelps' longtime teammate and rival, is still slowed by a strained left knee and again didn't get the results he wanted.
"It's time for me to start getting mad," Lochte said, chuckling. "I keep seeing everybody else's times get lower and lower. I keep waiting for my time. But this is just kind of a tuneup."
Phelps will compete in two other events in Santa Clara the 200 backstroke (also against Lochte) and the 200 butterfly.
Eleven-time Olympic medalists Natalie Coughlin won the women's 100 free in 54.1 seconds, but was disqualified for staying underwater too long. Melissa Franklin was awarded win in a time of 54.33 seconds.
The 14-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder finished ahead Australia's Nicholas D'Arcy and American Davis Tarwater in the butterfly race.
"The fly I felt good. I was able to connect my stroke a little bit more and get my hips into it," Phelps said. "At the end of the day, I was kind of bummed about the finish. I thought I was kind of long on the finish. But it's a good time. I can't really complain. I feel like I had a lot of pop on the first 50 than I did earlier in the year. So I think that's a lot better."
The strong showing in one of Phelps' signature events was overshadowed only by a slow start in his only other race of the night.
Phelps nearly chased down Park Tae-hwan of South Korea in the 100 free before finishing a close second.
"I couldn't get into it," Phelps said. "I couldn't run him down."
Santa Clara is the last stop on USA Swimming's grand prix series and the final tuneup for next month's world championships in Shanghai.
The 100 free was not one of the events Phelps raced en route to a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The addition is one of a few small changes Phelps is trying to make as he grows older - at least by swimming standards. He turns 26 at the end of the month.
With the world championships looming in Shanghai next month, everybody is aiming for maximum output. Ryan Lochte, Phelps' longtime teammate and rival, is still slowed by a strained left knee and again didn't get the results he wanted.
"It's time for me to start getting mad," Lochte said, chuckling. "I keep seeing everybody else's times get lower and lower. I keep waiting for my time. But this is just kind of a tuneup."
Phelps will compete in two other events in Santa Clara the 200 backstroke (also against Lochte) and the 200 butterfly.
Eleven-time Olympic medalists Natalie Coughlin won the women's 100 free in 54.1 seconds, but was disqualified for staying underwater too long. Melissa Franklin was awarded win in a time of 54.33 seconds.
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