Peirsol edges Phelps, sets 200 backstroke record
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Aaron Peirsol climbed atop the lane rope, pumping his right fist in the air over and over again. Michael Phelps leaned his forehead against the wall of the pool, looking downright exhausted.
No one said winning seven gold medals was going to be easy.
The world’s best swimmer endured his first defeat of the U.S. Olympic trials on Monday, unable to keep pace when Peirsol broke his own world record in the 200-meter backstroke.
“You could say it sent me a message, it was an eye-opener,” said Phelps, who finished second. “We know what we’re trying to attempt is not easy.”
Phelps bounced back to win the 200 individual medley, making him the first American male to qualify for five individual swimming events at an Olympics. For good measure, he returned at the end of the night to advance to the 100 butterfly final.
In all, three races in just over an hour.
“It was the hardest night I’ve ever had,” Phelps said.
Amanda Beard also set a world record — there have been five in the first six days of the trials — but 10-time Olympic medalist Jenny Thompson failed to claim a spot in the 100 freestyle, finishing fifth.
That was high enough to earn consideration for the relay.
“I’m disappointed with my time and performance,” said Thompson, whose eight gold medals have all come in relays.
Speaking of fast, Peirsol and Phelps were both under record pace for the first three laps. Peirsol led all the way and pulled away on the final leg for a time of 1 minutes, 54.74 seconds — breaking his own mark of 1:55.15 set two years ago.
“I don’t like to lose,” Phelps said. “It definitely drives me to go back to the drawing board and try to change a few things.”
Phelps took the second Olympic spot at 1:55.86 but found out how difficult it will be to race in so many events against specialized swimmers. He’s got six individual events at the trials, part of a plan to compete in up to nine races in Athens.
Peirsol is a backstroker exclusively, having gone nearly four years since his last loss in the 200 — a silver-medal performance at Sydney Olympics.
Beard won by nearly 5 seconds at 2:22.44, breaking the record that Australia’s Leisel Jones had established Friday at a meet in Brisbane. Jones’ time of 2:22.96 edged the record Beard had shared with China’s Hui Qi.
“Now I’m not tied,” Beard said. “It’s fun to actually break it.”
Caroline Bruce was the surprise runner-up, earning her first trip to the Olympics in 2:27.22.