 |
|
|
|
Phelps out of 200 medley to save energy
Hopes of a mouth-watering Pan Pac duel between Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte in the men's 200 metres individual medley were dashed on Saturday when Phelps pulled out of the morning heats.
American Phelps, who said earlier this week he was in relatively poor shape coming into the Pan Pacific Championships, decided to withdraw to conserve energy for Saturday evening's 400 medley relay final.
The multiple Olympic gold medallist's coach, Bob Bowman, was told by Phelps overnight he would be unable to swim the heats and finals of the individual medley before competing in the relay final later in the day.
"He's not in the condition to do it," Bowman told reporters at the William Woolett Jr Aquatics Center.
"The key to this game is consistency and replicating it, and Michael's success has always been based on repeated efforts. So when he doesn't have the conditioning to do that, he's got the message."
World record holder Lochte beat Phelps in the 200 individual medley at the US national championships earlier this month, setting up the prospect of a gripping head-to-head at this week's Pan Pacs.
