PARIS - Fourteen-times Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps, gearing up for the U.S. championships in August, won the 200 metres butterfly at the Paris Open on Saturday.
The American led from the start to triumph in one minute 55.70 seconds but was never in contention in the 100 metres freestyle won by local favourite Fabien Gilot, finishing seventh in 49.44.
“I think as a whole, for the day, it’s not terrible,” Phelps told reporters. “It was like 27 minutes in between each race.
“I think there is still a lot of work to do.”
Olympic 100 freestyle champion Alain Bernard of France failed to qualify for the final and cited fatigue as the main reason.
“I was very tired and when you are tired there is nothing you can do,” he said.
