At the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, six-time Olympic gold medalist
Michael Phelps has qualified for a fourth event at the Beijing Games,
and virtually secured a fifth, as he chases countryman Mark Spitz's
1972 record of seven gold medals at one Olympics.
Phelps won
the men's 200 meters butterfly (1:52.20) Wednesday night for a spot in
the event in Beijing. He also won his preliminary heat in the 100
meters freestyle, but withdrew from the final because he felt his time
(of 42.92 seconds) was fast enough to secure him a place on the 4 x 100
meters freestyle relay team.
Phelps also said he would drop out
of Thursday's 200-meters backstroke trial. The 23-year-old swimming
star is expected to qualify for five individual events and three relays
in Beijing.
In Wednesday's other results from the pool in
Omaha, Nebraska, 19-year-old Katie Hoff set two American records in
qualifying for two events - the women's 200-meter freestyle (1:55.88)
and the 200-meter individual medley (2:9.71).
Jason Lezak set an American record in the men's 100 meter freestyle (47.58) in a semifinal heat.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
