JavaScript is off. Please enable to view full site.

Phelps qualifies for fifth consecutive Olympics

Phelps qualifies for fifth consecutive Olympics

Thursday, June 30, 2016, 09:11 GMT+7

OMAHA, Nebraska, June 29 - Michael Phelps, who came out of retirement in 2014 and rededicated himself to the pool, punched his ticket to the Rio Games on Wednesday by winning the 200 metres butterfly at the U.S. Olympic trials.

Cheered on by a capacity crowd that included his fiancée and their infant son, Phelps stormed to the wall in one minute, 54.84 seconds to become the first American male swimmer to make five Olympic teams in his career.

"That means the most tonight," an emotional Phelps said about his remarkable feat. "I think with everything that has happened and being able to come back that was probably harder than any swim I have had in my life."

Already the most decorated Olympian of all-time with 22 medals, including 18 gold, Phelps will head to Rio looking to reclaim the Olympic title he won in 2004 and defended in 2008 but surrendered to South African Chad le Clos in 2012.

"I didn't feel good the first two swims, didn't really feel good tonight but getting on the team was the most important thing and that was the only thing I had to do tonight," said Phelps. "I tried to take it out and just prayed to God I was going to be able to hang on."

Phelps has trimmed back his programme for Rio, scratching from the 100 and 200 free, but will try to qualify in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley.

He will have little time to savour the moment as he will be back in the pool early on Thursday for the preliminary heats in the 200 IM.

"I've been in the sport a long time and just being able to finish how I want to is so important to me and getting on this team is what I wanted to do," said Phelps. 

Reuters

More

Read more

;

Photos

VIDEOS

‘Taste of Australia’ gala dinner held in Ho Chi Minh City after 2-year hiatus

Taste of Australia Gala Reception has returned to the Park Hyatt Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Vietnamese woman gives unconditional love to hundreds of adopted children

Despite her own immense hardship, she has taken in and cared for hundreds of orphans over the past three decades.

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta celebrates spring with ‘hat boi’ performances

The art form is so popular that it attracts people from all ages in the Mekong Delta

Latest news