Michael Phelps A Sprinter? Perhaps for London 2012

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2009 TexSport Publications

Is Michael Phelps trying to make himself into a sprinter in preparation for the 2012 Olympics? He may just be doing so.

Phelps qualified for the finals in both the100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix?

His time in the freestyle event was 50.07 seconds, placing him as the seventh seed in the finals. He is only .73 second behind the top qualifier; Canada’s Brent Hayden.

In the 100-meter backstroke, he goes into the finals with the fourth fastest time (55.46). Fellow Olympian Matt Grevers has the top preliminary time (:55.15) in the finals.

Phelps is not known as a sprinter, but may attempt to make the 2012 Olympic team in the sprint events. He has stated previously he would not attempt to swim eight events in London. Opting to chance his events list may make for a better chance of multiple Olympic medals.

On Saturday, Phelps held off a late charge by Canada’s Ryan Cochrane to win the 400-meter freestyle, an event he had not competed in since 2005.

Cochran, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist in the 1500-meter freestyle, pushed Phelps over the final 100 meters, but Phelps held on for the win. Phelps also won the 200-meter butterfly on Friday.

Controversy has followed Phelps since his eight gold medals in Beijing. Photos surfaced earlier this year showing him inhaling from a marijuana pipe. He was suspended from competition by USA Swimming this past February. He returned to competition last month at the Charlotte UltraSwim.

In Charlotte, he won both the 200-meter freestyle (1:46.02) and 100-meter butterfly (:51.72) while taking second place in the 100-meter backstroke.