SANTA CLARA, California — Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps knows training in Colorado Springs is good for his swimming career. That doesn't mean he has to like it. “It's painful,” Phelps said. “It's mentally challenging more than anything. I know, deep down inside, I do benefit from going.”
Phelps took charge of the men's 200 individual medley (IM) and raced to his second win of the Arena Pro Series Sunday night.
“It's just good to push my body as hard as I can,” he said. “It helps prepare me. This has been a great confidence booster for me. I look at this and feel like I'm doing something right.”
Phelps' next focus is the national championships, where he expects to swim the 100 fly, 100 individual medley and 200 individual medley, though he hasn't confirmed anything.
“I didn't know what events I would swim here until I got here,” Phelps said. “I don't know that I will be able to do all the events I want at nationals.”
First he has to survive a three-week training regimen at the Olympic Training Center.
“You're locked in this compound for three weeks,” he said. “I can complain about going but I know it's what I need.”
Olympic champion Missy Franklin, in her first long course event of the season, finished third in the 200 backstroke, an event in which she holds the world record, and sixth in the 100 freestyle on the final day.
“I have a lot of mixed feelings,” Franklin said. “I haven't raced for a long time but I felt strong and powerful. The speed just was not there. It was important to figure out what works in the water.”
Hungary's Katinka Hosszu won the women's 200 individual medley and the 200 backstroke, her fourth and fifth victories of the weekend.
Russian Yulia Efimova won the women's 50 breast, edging Trojan Swim Club teammate Jessica Hardy by a half-second. Efimova will be competing at the world championships in Kazan, Russia, later this summer. — AP
