Phelps edges Lochte, Franklin denies Coughlin

OMAHA, Nebraska (AFP) –

Ryan Lochte (L) and Michael Phelps before the start of the men’s 200m freestyle final at the US Olympic swimming trials on June 27. Phelps turned the tables on Lochte in the 200m freestyle final, edging his rival in a thriller as both booked London Games berths.

Michael Phelps turned the tables on Ryan Lochte in the 200m freestyle final at the US Olympic swimming trials, edging his rival in a thriller as both booked London Games berths.

Phelps, the former world record-holder and reigning Olympic champion, led at every turn with Lochte right on his shoulder.

Both came hard off the final turn, with Lochte putting on the pressure before Phelps’s final push gave him the victory in 1min 45.70sec.

Lochte — who beat Phelps in the event at last year’s World Championships in Shanghai — was second in 1:45.75.

The two are already booked for an Olympic clash in the 400m individual medley, in which Lochte beat Phelps on Monday.

Phelps also lost to Lochte in their 200m free semi-final on Tuesday — and said he had made some changes to his race tactics.

An official watches as Missy Franklin swims to victory in the women’s 100m backstroke final at the US Olympic swimming trials on June 27. Franklin surged into the lead on the second lap to win in 58.85sec — an American record and the fastest time in the world this year.

“I saw the semi-finals and watching the turns I just got crushed on the wall so I tried to sort of use more speed and try to take it out,” he said.

Lochte was already looking forward to doing it all again in London.

“I love that race,” Lochte said. “I love racing against him. I could be a pool length ahead of him, and he’ll still be there at the end. He’s a great racer.”

Phelps’s 14 Olympic gold medals include his historic eight-gold haul at Beijing four years ago.

He returned less than an hour after the 200m free final for the semi-finals of the 200m butterfly, where he had the third-quickest time of 1:56.42 behind Bobby Bollier (1:56.06) and Davis Tarwater (1:56.10).

Phelps’s coach Bob Bowman later said he would not swim the 100m freestyle on Thursday, although he was still expected to be in the mix for the 4x100m free relay.

As Phelps was busy lining up more chances to cement his Olympic legacy, teenager Missy Franklin led a changing of the guard in the women’s 100m backstroke.

Breeja Larson (R) is congratulated after winning the women’s 100m breaststroke final at the US Olympic swimming trials on June 27. Larson won in 1:05.92 ahead of world champion Rebecca Soni — who secured her London spot in 1:05.99.

Franklin, 17, tipped for Olympic stardom after her breakout performance at last year’s world championships, surged into the lead on the second lap to win in 58.85sec — an American record and the fastest time in the world this year.

Rachel Bootsma, 18, was second in 59.49 to punch her ticket to the Games while 29-year-old Natalie Coughlin, the two-time defending Olympic champion, finished third to miss out on a chance at a third title.

Only the top two finishers in each event in the eight-day meeting secure places in the Olympic team.

“I did my best, that’s all you can ask for,” said Coughlin, who swam under the lane ropes at the end to congratulate the ecstatic teens.

Franklin’s was introduced as an Olympic team member in front of a crowd of 12,000.

“I have dreamed of this moment, but I never thought it would come true at 17 years old,” she said. “Dreams do come true.”

Like Phelps, Franklin had a busy night. Her impressive 100m backstroke performance followed an appearance in the 200m freestyle semi-finals in which she advanced to the final with the fifth-fastest time.

Breeja Larson sprung a surprise in the women’s 100m breaststroke, winning in 1:05.92 ahead of world champion Rebecca Soni — who secured her London spot in 1:05.99.

World record-holder Jessica Hardy was the odd woman out, finishing third in 1:06.53.

Matt Grevers won the men’s 100m backstroke in 52.08sec — fastest in the world this year. Nick Thoman claimed the second Olympic berth in 52.86sec.