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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

U.S. swimming: Phelps, Franklin will be busy in London

Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. – Michael Phelps’ Olympic program is set. He’ll be going for another eight gold medals.

He’s not the only one who’ll be busy in London. Get ready to see a lot of Missy Franklin.

And how ’bout Anthony Ervin! After eight years away from swimming, he’ll be at the Olympics, too.

Phelps wrapped up another stellar week at the U.S. trials Sunday night, rallying to win the 100-meter butterfly and secure his spot in five individual races at the Olympics. Throw in the three relays, and that adds up to eight.

Franklin will have four individual races in London after capping her week with a dominating win in the 200 backstroke. She’s expected to swim all three relays, as well, setting her up to become the first U.S. woman to swim seven events in a single games.

Make that the first female. She’s still a girl, a 17-year-old who’ll be a high school senior in the fall. Ervin will have one event in London, a chaotic dash from one end of the pool to the other. But it’s amazing that he’s going at all, considering he walked away from the sport in 2003.

Now, after returning to the sport just a year ago, he’s got a chance to win another gold. A runner-up finish behind Cullen Jones in the 50 freestyle locked up his improbable spot on the American team.

Franklin blew away the field in the 200 back with a time of 2 minutes, 6.12 seconds, fastest in the world this year and nearly 1 1/2 seconds ahead of runner-up Elizabeth Beisel, who secured the second spot in London at 2:07.58.