Despite winning 200m freestyle and butterfly events, the Beijing Olympic Games hero was overshadowed by his teammate who set a WR in 100m backstroke.
Aaron Peirsol overshadowed Michael Phelps’ first appearance at the US National swimming championships on Wednesday, reclaiming his 100 metres backstroke world record with a stunning swim.
Peirsol clocked 51.94 seconds, slicing 0.44 seconds off the mark set by Spain’s Aschwin Wildeboer Faber in the lead off leg in a 4x100m medley relay at the Mediterranean Games on July 1. “When my world record was broken it was a total surprise,” Peirsol, who has now broken the record six times, told reporters. “My goal coming in was to break the world record and that was added motivation, most definitely. The guy got to hold it for a week and in another of couple of weeks he will get his chance again. That was just a great swim, I felt great. It’s great to know what I’m capable of.”
Matthew Grevers had taken the race out in world record pace and led Peirsol at the turn but the Olympic champion took command over the final 50, pulling away for the win and securing his spot for the world championships in Rome later this month. While Peirsol stole the spotlight, it was Phelps, the winner of 14 Olympic gold medals, the capacity crowd had come to see.
In his first major test since his record eight gold medal haul at the Beijing Games, Phelps delighted his fans picking up wins in the 200 freestyle and 200 butterfly.
While Phelps is contemplating reshaping his 2012 Olympic programme around shorter distances he is no stranger to the events he won on Wednesday, holding the world record and Olympic gold in both. The 200 freestyle final featured five members of the US gold medal 4x200m freestyle relay squad from Beijing but they were unable to haul in their team mate who powered home in one minute, 44.23 seconds.
It was the fastest time this year and sixth fastest all time but well off his world mark of 1:42.96. Phelps was back in the pool less than an hour later, clocking 1:52.76 in the 200 butterfly, again the fastest time in the event this year and fifth fastest of all-time, though he was less than pleased. “I’m not happy but some of the things that happened today are going to make me swim faster,” said Phelps. “I can’t really expect to come out here and do a best time right now. The times are fine but there are just some other things that are frustrating that I will keep inside to fire me up. I’m happy with where I am, all things considered, but deep down inside I’m really only happy and excited when I’m doing best times.”
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