Phelps is aiming to repeat Beijing haul

Phelps is aiming to repeat Beijing haul Phelps’ Olympic medal haul Athens 2004 • 6 gold - 100m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley, 4×200m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay • 2 bronze - 200m freestyle

Friday, June 29, 2012
Phelps won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics four years ago. Net photo.

Phelps is aiming to repeat Beijing haulPhelps’ Olympic medal haulAthens 2004• 6 gold - 100m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley, 4×200m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay• 2 bronze - 200m freestyleBeijing 2008• 8 gold - 200m and 400m individual medley, 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m     butterfly, 4x100m and 4×200m freestyle relay, 4×100m medley relayOMAHA - Michael Phelps, who won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, has confirmed he intends to compete in the same eight events in London.He has already qualified for three of the five individual events and will be automatic choice in the three relays.After qualifying in the 400m medley and 200m freestyle, he has now secured his place in the 200m butterfly.Allison Schmitt has also gained qualification for London 2012 in both the 200m and 400m freestyle.Phelps, 26, needs just three more medals of any colour in London to surpass the overall record of 18 held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina.He still has the 200m medley and 100m butterfly qualification to secure but is confident of doing so at the qualification event in Omaha.After a difficult day one, where he was pushed all the way by Ryan Lochte, he eased to victory in the 200m butterfly, finishing well clear of second placed Tyler Clary, with a time of 53.65, the fastest time in the world this year. Clary’s frantic finish means he will join Phelps in London."Today was the best my stroke has felt throughout the whole meet,” Phelps said. "I’m pleased, but I think I need to go faster if I want to win that at the Olympics.”The battle for medals between Phelps and Lochte is set to be one of the most anticipated in the pool. They will go head to head in the 200m and 400m individual medley and the 200m freestyle.Schmitt , who trains with the same team as Phelps in North Baltimore, will also be on the plane to London after she swam the fastest times in the world since synthetic suits were banned at the end of 2009, meaning she will be one of the favourites this summer.