Phelps to swim 400m medley at US trials

Washington, June 25 (IANS)- American swimming icon Michael Phelps has confirmed that he will participate in the 400-metre individual medley at the US Olympic swimming trials.

Phelps, winner of the event at the past two Olympics, had said after the 2008 Beijing Games that he wouldn’t swim in this discipline again in major competition, reported Xinhua.

Phelps will set a match-up against Ryan Lochte in the 400m medley Monday, which is the first event of the eight-day meet.

Phelps holds the world record in the 400m medley at 4:03.84, set while winning the gold in Beijing. Lochte settled for bronze in Beijing behind Phelps and Hungarian Laszlo Cseh, but claimed the world title in Shanghai last year.

“I love racing against him,” Lochte said. “He’s one of the hardest racers in the world. He’ll go toe-to-toe with you until the end. That’s excitement for me. I really hope he does swim that.”

Phelps is entered in seven events at the eight-day trials, where the top two finishers in each event book an Olympic place.

That raises the prospect he could vie for 10 medals in London.

“We’ve done a lot of cool, amazing things and now it’s just time to have fun,” Phelps said. “We’re more relaxed and we’ll see after this week what size cherry I want to put on top of my sundae.”