Michael Phelps wins 100-meter freestyle to sweep both his races at Canada Cup

Phelps sweeps his 2 Montreal races

MONTREAL — Michael Phelps swept both events he entered at the Canada Cup, though he gave himself a split decision on his performance in his last two races leading up to next month’s U.S. nationals.

Phelps won the 100-meter freestyle Sunday in the pool that hosted the 1976 Olympics after posting a personal best time there in winning Saturday’s 100-meter butterfly.

His time of 48.65 seconds in the 100 freestyle improved on the 48.87 he swam one week earlier, when he finished second to defending world champion Brent Hayden of Canada in Santa Clara, Calif.

“I’m sort of everywhere where I want to be, except in the 100 free,” Phelps said. “I want to be faster in that.”

Phelps was asked his position on high-tech swimsuits with FINA due to issue its newly approved list Monday.

“I think it should be a level playing field for everybody, no matter what suit you’re wearing, and that’s about it,” said Phelps, who pointed out that he wears an approved Speedo LZR suit and has “nothing to worry about.”

He hit the first turn in the 100 in 23.59 seconds, 0.20 ahead of Australian Matt Targett. He held onto his margin on the second length but was unable to add much more distance between himself and Targett, who finished second in 48.87.

“I wish I could answer the question of what happened in the second 50,” Phelps said. “I’m going to watch the video and see what happened with my stroke and if it fell apart or not. The first 50 felt awesome. That’s the best my stroke has felt in a race, was the very first lap, and I’ve just got to work on doing it for the 100’s two laps.”

George Bovell of Trinidad and Tobago was third through the first length, hitting the turn in 23.82. He lost time on the second length, though he was able to hold onto third place, finishing in 49.85.

“You’re always going to have a race, no matter where you go and no matter who’s involved,” said Phelps, who tossed his medal from the race to an appreciative fan in the sold-out crowd of approximately 3,000. “I liked being pushed and I like having competition.”

One day earlier, the 14-time Olympic gold medalist won the 100 butterfly in 50.48.

The Montreal meet is Phelps’ final tuneup for the U.S. nationals in Indianapolis on July 7-11. That’s where the team will be selected for the world championships, which will be held in Rome from July 17 to Aug. 2.

“I honestly haven’t even decided what I’m going to swim yet,” Phelps said. “That’s something I’m actually going to figure out over the next few days and get the entries in. The most important thing is to make the world champ team this year and just try to swim as fast as I can. There are some times I want to hit and if I get to that point this year, I’ll be satisfied. If not, I’ll have something to look forward to.”