Phelps edges Lochte in closest-ever 200 IM at Olympic trials

By Charean Williams

cjwilliams@star-telegram.com

OMAHA, Neb. -- Michael Phelps celebrated his 27th birthday Saturday with another victory. Surprise! Surprise!

"After you get past 25, there's no point in even counting anymore," Phelps said of his birthday.

Olympic medals are another story entirely. He won eight golds in Bejiing. He should have a chance to win eight in London, assuming he does the expected tonight and wins the 100-meter butterfly.

"I actually never thought I would ever try it again," Phelps said. "Then, we were talking with [coach] Bob [Bowman] about the event program, I was like, 'Wait a minute. It's essentially going to be eight again.' He was like, 'Yeah. You didn't think about that?' I was like, 'No, because I didn't think I would do it.'"

Phelps beat rival Ryan Lochte in the 200 IM on Saturday night in the closest race in trials history in the event. Phelps swam a 1:54.84; Lochte touched in 1:54.93.

Phelps has won two of the three events in which he and Lochte have gone head to head. Lochte won the 400 IM, Phelps the 200 free and 200 IM.

"A win is a win," Phelps said. "It feels good to be back on that side, but I'm sure that's not going to be the end of us going back and forth. I'm just happy to be able to have a good race like that and kind of hold it all together."

Lochte, 27, finds himself in familiar territory in trying to "keep up with the Phelpses." The two have another showdown tonight, but Phelps is the heavy favorite, having had the fastest qualifying time (51.35) in the 100 fly, with Lochte tied for sixth (52.47).

"I'm used to racing against him," Lochte said. "I've been doing it for eight years now. He's one of the toughest competitors out there. The past four years I've gone a lot faster, and I know what my body can handle. I know this meet was just steppingstones for what I really want to do in London."

Lochte swam three races in less than an hour Saturday, including two finals. He won the 200 back, one of the most taxing races, with a 1:54.54. Tyler Clary was second in 1:54.88.

Only 28 minutes later, Lochte lost to Phelps in the 200 IM, in which Lochte holds the world record. The two shook hands, a sign of their mutual respect.

In the last event Saturday night, Lochte qualified for the 100 fly final. He said he will swim tonight despite being "in the most pain I've endured in my swimming career."

Lochte already has qualified to swim four individual events at the Olympics -- the 400 IM, the 200 IM, the 200 back and the 200 free. He and Phelps will see a lot of each other in London.

"Neither one of us wants to lose," Phelps said. "When we get in the water, we race as hard as we can, whether we're playing cat and mouse or we're going all out. They're fun, exciting races, and Ryan has proved that he's been the best over the last couple of years. I've always been about being able to race the best. ...So being able to get in the water and race with him is something I enjoy and something I look forward to over the next couple of weeks."

Charean Williams

817-390-7760

Twitter: @NFLCharean

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