Phelps Has Plenty to Ponder

Suddenly, Michael Phelps has bigger worries than Mark Spitz.

Two Ians and an Aaron. That would be Ian Crocker, Ian Thorpe and Aaron Peirsol.

What looked to be a coronation is looking more like a street filled with potholes.

And if that sounds strange after Phelps qualified in an American record six individual events at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Long Beach, well, that’s correct. Today, Phelps and his handlers apparently will hammer out his Olympic schedule and decide whether or not to take on the likes of Crocker in the 100-meter butterfly, Peirsol in the 200 backstroke and the Australian legend, Thorpe, in the 200 freestyle.

These things rarely go according to script, and Crocker complicated the process by injecting doubt Tuesday by defeating Phelps in the 100 butterfly, breaking his own world record, going 50.76 seconds. Phelps was second in 51.15.

Diana Munz won the 800 freestyle in 8:26.06, and Margaret Hoelzer took the 200 backstroke in 2:11.88. But the headliner was Gary Hall Jr., who won the splash and dash of the 50 freestyle in 21.91, edging Jason Lezak’s 22.05.

Rivals Hall and Lezak split their races. Lezak took the first round, winning the 100 freestyle.

Unlike Hall, Phelps was unable to avenge his last defeat. One loss may be a fluke. But two to Crocker is a trend. Crocker took away Phelps’ world record last summer in Barcelona, winning in 50.98. There, they both went under Phelps’ existing world record. Peirsol has never lost to Phelps in their brief rivalry in the 200 backstroke, and Phelps holds the third-fastest time in the world in 2004 behind Thorpe and Grant Hackett of Australia in the 200 freestyle.

Six individual events, plus three possible relays, in steamy Athens: Hype or hubris?

Presumably, Phelps and his coach, Bob Bowman, will be shuffling and weighing their options. Phelps seemed exhausted and said he was “very relieved it’s over.” He finished with losses on consecutive days, four victories and one world record in a marathon schedule. Bowman said the fatigue issue showed in the final race.

“There’s always going to be one race where you’re going to sort of be out of your game or someone is more prepared than you are,” said Phelps, who was displeased with his start and turns in the loss to Crocker.

But worth figuring into the equation is what Crocker had to say. Crocker, who led at the 50 and fought off a Phelps surge in the second 50, was asked if he would go faster in Athens.

“I promise,” he said.

Peirsol, who beat Phelps in the 200 backstroke on Monday and broke his own world record, had his epiphany in the winter when Phelps threatened his mark. Crocker used an old loss to Phelps in the 100 butterfly as motivation.

“It’s a good feeling when you’re giant leaps in front of the next guy,” Crocker said. “But good feelings don’t always create results. The fact that Michael is right there gets a lot of people motivated. It brings out the best in the sport....

“It forced swimming, at least on the men’s side, to just take leaps and bounds.”

That was obvious as the trials showed it is not merely Phelps going to Athens with a few passengers. Certainly the larger-than-life personality of Gary Hall Jr. could never fit into that category.

Hall Jr., defending Olympic champion in the 50 freestyle, put his stamp on the night, and then some. Even by Hall’s standards, he outdid himself. There was the boxing attire, the biceps kissing and the muscle flexing. All that was missing from the routine was the air guitar display.

When he hopped on the block and bowed after winning, it seemed the perfect punctuation. But Hall had one more curtain call. He went up in the stands and embraced his large group of supporters, family and friends, including his father, three-time Olympian Gary Hall Sr. Hall had been ailing all week and his father said this was the toughest race of his son’s career.

“Climbing into the stands to see his family -- it’s like Wimbledon,” said one of Hall’s coaches, former Olympian Jon Olsen. “It makes it exciting. How can you criticize someone who wins and shows emotion?”

Veteran Hall watchers knew he wasn’t quite right all week. The camp was on edge and finally found relief after 21.91 seconds in the water.

“Earlier today, it was just terror, the whole day was terror,” said Hall Jr.’s wife, Elizabeth. “Right before he went out, I just told him, ‘You’re the best in the world, now go show it.’ And he showed it.”

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Well-Qualified

Michael Phelps, opening his quest for seven Olympic gold medals, qualified to compete in each of the six individual events in which he swam at the U.S. Olympic trials this month in Long Beach:

Day: July 7

Event: 400 individual medley

Result: Finished first with a world-record time of 4:08.41

*

Day: Friday

Event: 200 freestyle

Result: Finished first with a trials-record time of 1:46.27

*

Day: Saturday

Event: 200 butterfly

Result: Finished first with a U.S.-record time of 1:54.31

*

Day: Monday

Event: 200 backstroke

Result: Finished second, as Aaron Peirsol broke world record

*

Day: Monday

Event: 200 individual medley

Result: Finished first with a trials-record time of 1:56.71

*

Day: Tuesday

Event: 100 butterfly

Result: Finished second, as Ian Crocker broke world record