OMAHA, Nebraska – Michael Phelps has dropped the 200 meters freestyle from his schedule for next month's London Olympics, leaving him with seven events for his Games swansong. The American qualified for eight events at the US Trials, the same number he swam at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, but will drop the 200m freestyle to focus on the relays. “Michael Phelps will be removing the individual 200 freestyle from his Olympic program. This will give him a full slate of seven events,” his coach Bob Bowman said. Phelps triumphed in the 200m freestyle in the Beijing Games when he won an unprecedented eight gold medals. But he was beaten in the four-lap race at the last two world championships. Phelps already holds the record for the most gold medals at a single Olympics (eight) and overall total (14). He needs just three more medals to surpass the overall mark of 18 held by former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. — AP
