Phelps nears Olympic form
OMAHA, Neb. — Michael Phelps rounded into form earlier in the week, but after dominating the 200-meter butterfly Thursday night and winning by more than a body length, he noted an assuring familiarity with finding himself comfortably ahead of the field.
“My strokes felt like the old strokes,” said Phelps, who touched the wall in one minute and 53.65 seconds at the U.S. Olympic trials.
Phelps, who won eight gold medals at the Beijing Games in 2008, delivered his best performance of the meet in the event his family cherishes most. He watched Davis Tarwater dart out to an early lead through the first 100 meters, but Phelps took it from there, powering off the wall and speeding to the finish wall. Tarwater faded as Tyler Clary claimed second place and a position on the Olympic team with a time of 1:55.12.
“I didn’t want to be close,” Phelps said. “But I know that time is not going to get a medal in London.”
Phelps, who evened the score against rival Ryan Lochte Wednesday night with a close win in the 200-meter freestyle, proved equally motivated in winning an event without Lochte in the field. They are not expected to square off again until Saturday in the 200 individual medley. Lochte downed Phelps in the 400 IM on Monday.
“When we’re next to each oth- er we kind of play cat-andmouse,” Phelps said of the matchup with Lochte. “We don’t just sort of jump out after it like we have in the past.”
Lochte, meanwhile, swam only in the 100-meter freestyle semifinals Thursday night. His time of 48.91 seconds was good enough for him to advance to Friday’s final.
FAST TIMES
Allison Schmitt established an American record in the 200-meter freestyle Thursday night.
“I was excited before I even saw the time,” said Schmitt, who touched the wall in 1:54.40.
Schmitt, who trains with Phelps, previously won the 400 freestyle. Missy Franklin will join her in the 200 freestyle in London as she finished second at 1:56.79.
“I knew it was going to be a fast final,” Franklin said. “Allison’s been so consistent all year.”