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Phelps fails to qualify for 400 medley final

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-08-20 10:03

Michael Phelps of the U.S. warms up before his heat of the men's 400m individual medley at the Pan Pacific 2010 swimming championships in Irvine, California, August 19, 2010.[Photo/Agencies]

IRVINE, California - Michael Phelps failed to qualify for the 400 metres individual medley final at the Pan Pacific Championships on Thursday after competing in the event for the first time since the 2008 Olympics.

Although the fatigued world record holder had the fourth-fastest time in the morning heats, clocking four minutes 15.38 seconds, he was beaten by two of his team mates.

Only two swimmers from each country are allowed to compete in the eight-man final and fellow Americans Ryan Lochte and Tyler Clary each dipped under the previous Pan Pac record to finish first and second in the opening heat.

World champion Lochte touched in 4.08.77 with Clary close behind in 4.09.20 in dazzling sunshine at the William Woolett Jr. Aquatics Center.

Brazil's Thiago Pereira was third fastest, winning the second heat in 4.15.35, before Phelps missed out on qualifying after dominating the third and final heat.

"Gosh, I shouldn't have done it. That was painful," Phelps told reporters. "I was expecting 4.10 or 4.12 this morning, and then go for it tonight. For them to go 4.08, 4.09 -- that's a very, very solid swim.

"Looking at my splits, it's not terrible. I'm trying to think of how many other times I've been faster than that in a prelim. I definitely wasn't expecting those boys to fire one-off like that from heat one."

NO SHOT

Phelps said he had exchanged words with Lochte and Clary shortly after their heat and told them there was no chance he would join them in Thursday's final.

He added: "They're like: 'Yeah right, yeah right.' And I'm like: 'Dudes, I'm not going 4.07. There's no shot.'

"They could have thought I was trying to be coy, but I was being dead honest. I knew 4.07 was nowhere near being in the tank. So, it's finished."

Phelps, who set the 400 medley world record of 4:03.84 at the Beijing Games, had said earlier this week he was in relatively poor shape coming into the Pan Pacs.

"I am probably between a four and five out of 10, so not too hot," the 25-year-old added. "I knew coming into that race it was going to be a rather painful way to sort of wake me up. It just wasn't there.

"I don't remember it ever being that painful but I guess it's a good reminder that I need to be in a whole lot better shape."

Asked if he planned to keep the 400 individual medley in his race schedule, Phelps replied: "Who knows? It's going to have to be a better judged decision once when we get back into good, solid training.

"I think that (race) was okay but obviously nowhere near where I want to be, or where I think I can be."

The multiple Olympic gold medallist had thought about giving up the event after the 2008 Beijing Games where he won an unprecedented eight gold medals.

Phelps, who set the previous Pan Pac 400 medley record of 4:10.47 in 2006, would not be competing in Thursday evening's consolation final, according to his coach Bob Bowman.?