2012 London Summer Olympics

Omaha, NE

To focus his energy on relays for the U.S. team, 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps decided to surrender his spot in the 200-meter freestyle, bringing his events in the London Olympics from eight to seven.

"Michael Phelps will be removing the individual 200 freestyle from his Olympic program," Phelps' coach Bob Bowman wrote on his Twitter account. "This will give him a full slate of seven events. This change will allow him to focus more energy on relays for Team USA."

The spot will now go to third-place finisher Ricky Berens, who is also part of the 4×100 freestyle relay.

Phelps' decision means that he will swim in four individual events in London -- the 100m and 200m butterfly, and the 200m and 400m individual medley -- and three other relay events.

The swimmer's decision also dashed his chances of matching the record eight-gold haul he set in the 2008 Beijing Games.

Four years ago, Phelps saw action in eight events and won the same number of gold medals to own the record for most gold medals won in a single Olympics, breaking the record of seven gold medals by American swimmer at the 1972 Munich Games.

Phelps' five gold medals in individual events tied the single Games record set by compatriot Eric Heiden in the 1980 Winter Olympics and equaled by Vitaly Scherbo at the 1992 Summer Games.

His 16-medal haul in the past two Olympics is second only Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, who captured 18 medals over three Olympics, including nine gold medals.

Phelps, 27, originally earned his 8th event at the London games after rallying to win the 100m butterfly at the United States Olympic trials in Omaha in 51.14 seconds but it was well-off his world-record time of 49.82.

"It shows that I can do the kind of event program like this at a high level again," said Phelps, who has already signified that the London Games will be his last.

"We were struggling over the last couple years at doing one event at this level. It's good being able to get a couple under the belt this week and hopefully build off of this. It will be good to get home and start heading toward London," he added.

 

 

Michael Phelps Cuts Swim Events to Seven for London Games