LONDON Aug 1 (Reuters) – Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte
both safely qualified for the semi-finals of the men’s 200
metres individual medley at the London Olympics on Wednesday.
Returning to the pool for the morning heats after they
teamed up to win gold for the United States in the 4×200
freestyle relay on Tuesday night, the pair were untroubled
making the top 16 for the evening semi-finals.
Phelps, who won the 200 medley at Athens in 2004 and Beijing
four years later and is bidding to become the first man to win
the same individual event at three Olympics, finished second in
his heat and fourth overall despite being fatigued.
“Didn’t really get much sleep last night, didn’t warm down at
all, so this morning didn’t feel too comfortable,” he said.
Lochte won his heat and was second overall but was
conserving his energy because he swam the 200 backstroke heats
just before the medley.
“This morning’s races were easy. All I had to do was get a
lane for tonight and that’s what I did,” Lochte said.
The fastest overall time was set by Laszlo Cseh of Hungary,
who left nothing to chance after missing out on a place on the
final for the 400 medley.
South Africa’s Chad le Clos was 11th overall. Le Clos upset
Phelps in the 200 butterfly final on Tuesday and was so shocked
by his victory that he slept with his gold medal.
(Reporting by Julian Linden; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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