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2016 Rio Olympics: Michael Phelps dominates at U.S. Olympic swimming trials

By The Sports Xchange
File photo by Pat Benic/UPI
File photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

Michael Phelps was back in the pool and the expected happened -- the 18-time gold medalist turned in an event's best swim.

Phelps advanced to the 200-meter butterfly semifinals by turning in a time of 1 minute, 56.68 seconds in Tuesday's preliminaries of the U.S. Olympic swimming trials at Omaha, Neb.

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Phelps led the entire way during his heat. He was in action for the first time since the trials began after pulling out of Monday's 200 freestyle.

"I just wanted to swim," Phelps told reporters. "That was the most annoying part: having to wait this long. But I'm happy to get the first one out of the way and just keep going."

Phelps, who turns 31 on Thursday, is striving to make the Olympics for the fifth time.

Pace Clark (1.56.90) recorded the second fastest prelims time and Jack Conger (1:57.33) was third.

In the women's 200 freestyle, Katie Ledecky easily advanced to the semifinals with a time of 1:55.60, the fastest of the prelims.

Ledecky already has earned a spot on the Olympic team in the 400 freestyle.

"I've definitely gained a lot of speed the last couple of months," Ledecky said afterward. "That's been showing in these races. I've put some more focus on these shorter races so I can be a big part of those relays and also compete individually."

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Leah Smith had the second-quickest time in the prelims at 1:56.47. Defending Olympic champion Allison Schmitt (1:57.77) was fourth.

Missy Franklin, a star in the 2012 Olympics with four gold medals and one bronze in London, finished in 1:58.61, which tied for seventh-fastest.

Franklin will swim in the 100 backstroke final on Tuesday night as well as the 200 free semis.

"I think I do my best when I'm given a big challenge, and tonight I'm really going to have a big challenge ahead of me," Franklin said afterward. "My warm-ups have been feeling really great. I think I'm trying a little bit too hard and thinking a little bit too much. It's just about trusting myself and just letting it happen."

In the 200 women's individual medley, Maya DiRado moved on to the semis with the fastest time of 2:11.66. DiRado already has earned a spot on the Olympic team in the 400 IM.

Caitlin Leverenz (2:11.89) was second in the prelims and Melanie Margalis (2:12.36) was third.

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