LONG BEACH, Calif., July 14 (UPI) -- Swimmer Michael Phelps, who fulfilled his goal of qualifying for six individual Olympic events, said Wednesday he would complete in only five.
Phelps decided to skip the 200-meter backstroke in next month's Athens Games.
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His prospects for a gold medal in the backstroke were slim since he finished second to Aaron Peirsol in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Peirsol set a world record in the trials.
In Athens, Phelps will compete in the 100 and 200-meter butterfly, the 200 and 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter freestyle.
He is also likely to be a part of three relay teams, thus giving him a chance to equal or break the record of seven gold medals won by Mark Spitz at the Munich Olympics in 1972.
