Apr 6, 2008 10:50 pm US/Eastern
Phelps Doesn't Win But Posts 3rd-Fastest U.S. Time
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) ―
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Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images
Michael Phelps finished second and still stole the spotlight.
The eight-time medalist at the Athens Olympics was second in the 100-meter freestyle -- an individual event he seldom swims -- yet his time of 48.41 seconds on Sunday at the Columbus Grand Prix was the third-fastest ever by an American.
"I was out in exactly what I wanted to be out in," said Phelps, winner of six golds and two bronze medals at the 2004 Games, who made the turn in 23.34 seconds. "I wanted to be out in 23.3 and try and come back but I guess I ran out of pool. There weren't enough meters left for me to catch him."
Auburn's Cesar Cielo, who will swim for Brazil in the Olympics this August in Beijing, won in 48.34. He had a comfortable lead with 25 meters remaining, but Phelps almost chased him down with a finishing kick.
"I couldn't be more pleased with that," said Phelps' coach with Club Wolverine, Bob Bowman. "I'd like him to win but that'll happen. Our goal is down the road a bit."
The only Americans to go faster than Phelps in the 100 free are Jason Lezak (48.17) and Anthony Ervin (48.33). Phelps previous best was 48.42 at the Pan Pacifics in 2006.
Phelps now will have two weeks away from competition before heading to Colorado Springs, Colo., for three weeks of altitude training.
"Once I get to Colorado, I'll be fine," Phelps said. "(Trainer) Keenan (Robinson) said, 'You're almost superhuman when you go there. ... I've never seen you train anywhere, anything close to what you train in Colorado.' So it should be good. I'm definitely looking forward to that."
He won the 100-meter butterfly, was second in the 200 freestyle and fourth in the 100 breaststroke on Friday night at Ohio State's natatorium, then won the 400 individual medley on Saturday.
Phelps spent almost an hour signing autographs and posing for pictures on Sunday before driving back home to Ann Arbor, Mich.
On a light day of competition, Phelps' Club Wolverine teammate, Peter Vanderkaay, pulled off a shocker with a winning time of 14:52.56 in the 1500 freestyle. Vanderkaay was as surprised as anyone.
"I just wanted to use that as a training swim," he said. "I really didn't see that one coming. That's a good sign."
Two-time Olympian Aaron Peirsol captured the 200 backstroke in 1:56.41, winning by more than 2 seconds.
"That's about what I thought I would go, so that's good," he said. "I was kind of on my own for the most part. I could focus on my own little race and kind of get the race strategy where I want it to be."
Katie Hoff, one of the top U.S. females heading into the Olympics, had already won the 800 free, 100 butterfly and 400 individual medley earlier in the meet. She won the 100 freestyle and placed second in the 200 butterfly on Sunday and declared herself satisfied with the weekend.
"I actually got a couple of best times out of it, so that's always a good thing," she said.
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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