Michael Phelps: Results from Saturday at Phillips 66 National Championships 2015
Aug 8, 2015
Michael Phelps dives into the pool at the start of the men's 100-meter butterfly final at the the U.S. swimming nationals, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in San Antonio. Phelps won the race. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
For the second night in a row, Michael Phelps rose to the occasion at the Phillips 66 National Championships in San Antonio. The 30-year-old won the men's 100-meter butterfly in commanding fashion.
Phelps was banned for the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia, so the U.S. championships effectively served as his biggest showcase event ahead of the 2016 Olympics.
On Friday night, Phelps competed in the men's 200-meter butterfly, blowing the competition away in the finals heat. His final run of one minute, 52.94 seconds wasn't merely the best time of the night; it was the best time anybody has posted this year and narrowly bettered Chad Le Clos' gold-medal-winning time at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
"I don't know the Russian term, but probably, 'holy s--t,'" said Phelps' trainer Bob Bowman when asked how those in Kazan might have reacted to Phelps' performance, per ESPN.com's Wayne Drehs. "I think there will be some surprise. I think some people will be very, very surprised."
After Saturday night, a palpable sense of dread must be hanging over Phelps' biggest competition.
The 18-time gold medalist didn't get off to a great start—at least by his supreme standards. He paced himself during the preliminaries, finishing second to Jack Conger in the 100 with a time of 52.12 seconds:
Pos.
Swimmer
Time
1
Jack Conger
51.97
2
Michael Phelps
52.12
3
Matthew Josa
52.21
4
David Nolan
52.46
5
Giles Smith
52.66
6
Tripp Cooper
52.88
7
Connor Black
53.03
8
Braxston Timm
53.06
9
Carl Weigley
53.12
10
Long Gutierrez
53.13
Phelps clearly saved his best for the finals, and his best is better than arguably anybody in the world right now.
He quickly swam out into the lead with a 50-meter split time of 24.10 seconds. The gulf between him and the rest of the field then grew during the final 50 meters, with everybody else fighting for second.
In the end, Phelps beat Conger by nearly a full second:
Pos.
Swimmer
Time
1
Michael Phelps
50.45
2
Jack Conger
51.33
3
David Nolan
52.15
4
Giles Smith
52.23
5
Matthew Josa
52.28
6
Connor Black
52.61
7
Tripp Cooper
52.63
8
Braxston Timm
53.38
Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde was beyond impressed by what he saw in the pool from Phelps:
Another GOAT bomb in San Antonio. @MichaelPhelps drops a 50.45 in 100 fly. Oh my.
According to Swimming World, Phelps missed a world record by 0.63 seconds. His time is particularly notable given what Le Clos recently said at the world championships after swimming the 100 in 50.56 seconds.
"I just did a [100-meter butterfly] time that [Phelps] hasn't done in four years, so he can keep quiet now," Le Clos told Eurosport (via Olympic Talk's Nick Zaccardi).
Perhaps it's fair to wonder how Phelps would perform when pitted against the best in the world, Le Clos in particular. You wouldn't expect his times to suffer greatly, but maybe he loses a split-second or two that mean the difference between first and second.
Still, publicly challenging Phelps may not be a wise strategy for Le Clos going forward, especially after Phelps' butterfly victories in San Antonio.
Phillips 66 National Championships 2015: Swimming Results from Friday
Aug 7, 2015
Michael Phelps competes in the preliminary round of the men's 200 meter butterfly at the U.S. nationals of swimming, Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
After collegiate swimmers took center stage during the first day of competition at the Phillips 66 National Championships in San Antonio, the most decorated Olympian in history hit the pool Friday evening.
While he didn't participate in the action Thursday, Michael Phelps appeared in the first of his four scheduled events at the USA Swimming National Championships—the men's 200-meter butterfly.
Since Phelps was arrested for the second time on a drunken-driving charge, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com), he was prohibited from participating in the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia. Thus, Phelps has been forced to use the Phillips 66 National Championships as his primary avenue to prominence this summer.
Here's a look at how Friday night's six events shook out:
Event
First Place (Time)
Second Place (Time)
Third Place (Time)
Women's 100-Meter Backstroke
Claire Adams (59.58)
Georgia Davies (59.93)
Ali Deloof (1:00.36)
Men's 200-Meter Freestyle
Maxime Rooney (1:47.10)
Zane Grothe (1:47.11)
Blake Pieroni (1:47.30)
Men's 100-Meter Backstroke
Junya Koga (53.20)
Nick Thoman (53.23)
Luke Kaliszak (54.23)
Women's 200-Meter Freestyle
Allison Schmitt (1:56.91)
Hali Flickinger (1:58.18)
Katie Drabot (1:58.58)
Men's 200-Meter Butterfly
Michael Phelps (1:52.94)
Jack Conger (1:54.54)
Pace Clark (1:56.84)
Women's 4x100-Meter Freestyle Relay
University of Louisville (3:44.81)
Carmel Swim Club (3:44.85)
Team Bruin (3:45.54)
Five events had to take place before Phelps plunged into the water for the 200-meter butterfly, and the women's 100-meter backstroke provided great theater right off the bat.
Claire Adams, 17, blitzed her competition with a winning time of 59.58 seconds.
As Swimming World Magazine noted following the race, Adams' world-ranked swim vaulted her up an important list:
"Adams has put herself on a growing list of young Americans (especially in the women’s 100 back) who will look to add new blood to a stagnating American national team as Rio is less than a year away," SwimSwam.com's Karl Ortegon wrote.
Joining Adams in the impressive youngster field was 17-year-old Maxime Rooney, who held off a hard charge from Auburn's Zane Grothe to capture first place at the men's 200-meter freestyle.
Grothe's final lap clocked in at a whopping 26.39 seconds, which was 1.25 seconds faster than Rooney's sprint down the home stretch. However, the fact that Rooney was able to accrue a 0.87-second edge over the first 50 meters helped set the tone for his slim margin of victory.
Jack Conger of the University of Texas would have been the favorite, but according to SwimSwam.com's Anne Lepesant, he opted to drop out of the 200-meter freestyle final despite posting the top preliminary time (1:47.62), which was actually a personal best by nearly a second.
Instead, Conger directed all of his energy toward a 200-meter butterfly showdown with Phelps.
After Phelps recorded the top preliminary time at 1:55.15, he tallied a final time of 1:52.54 in the butterfly, which was nearly two seconds faster than Conger (1:54.54), who finished second.
Not only was Phelps' time the fastest in the world this year for the 200-meter butterfly, per Swimming World Magazine, but it also ranked as the fastest time in over five years, per SwimSwam Live on Twitter:
That's the fastest 200 fly in the world since 2009, it appears.
Considering Phelps felt exceptionally comfortable following his preliminary swim, it's no wonder he came out guns blazing for the nightcap.
"I felt good," Phelps said, according to the San Antonio Express-News' Jerry Briggs. "Stroke felt decent. It’s a good morning swim. I mean, I don’t know how many times I’ve been 1:55 low in the morning."
Olympic gold medalist Allison Schmitt proceeded to torch her fellow swimmers in the women's 200-meter freestyle final. Considered the favorite entering the event, Schmitt downed the University of Georgia's Hali Flickinger by nearly 1.3 seconds in a final that lived up to expectations.
Although there's officially a bow on Friday's action, the spotlight will continue to shine bright on Phelps as he preps for a showing in the men's 100-meter butterfly Saturday in San Antonio. As a reminder, Phelps is also primed to compete in the 200-meter individual medley on Sunday and the 200-meter breaststroke when the national championships conclude Monday.
But with a 200-meter butterfly title in the bag and momentum building, Phelps will be viewed as the undisputed favorite as he looks to keep things rolling in a shorter race Saturday night.
Tom Daley at World Aquatics Championships 2015: Results, Scores from Sunday
Aug 2, 2015
KAZAN, RUSSIA - AUGUST 01: Tom Daley of Great Britain competes in the Men's 10m Platform Diving Semi Finals on day eight of the 16th FINA World Championships at the Aquatics Palace on August 1, 2015 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
British favourite Tom Daley clinched a bronze medal at the World Aquatics Championships on Sunday, finishing third in the men's 10-metre platform final to round off a successful weekend in Kazan, Russia.
Daley had already given Britain much to be happy about after securing the team's place in the individual 10-metre platform event at Rio 2016 just by qualifying for Sunday's climactic showdown.
A final dive attempt saw Daley score 537.95 in total to finish among the World Aquatics Championships' top three in this event for the first time since winning the gold in 2009.
Here are the overall results from Sunday's 10-metre platform final:
Position
Diver
Nation
Score
1
Qiu Bo
China
587.00
2
David Boudia
United States
560.20
3
Tom Daley
Great Britain
537.95
4
Ivan Garcia Navarro
Mexico
518.95
5
Benjamin Auffret
France
490.25
6
Victor Minibaev
Russia
486.40
7
Nikita Shleikher
Russia
482.70
8
Domonic Bedggood
Australia
470.40
9
Vadim Kaptur
Belarus
455.20
10
Jian Yang
China
451.20
The 21-year-old was engaged in a fierce head-to-head with Mexico's Ivan Garcia for the third podium place, while China's Qiu Bo sealed his spot as world champion and David Boudia of the United States claimed the silver medal.
Daley needed more than a 95.20 in order to go ahead of Garcia lining up for his penultimate dive, but the judges would desire a last-gasp rush for the podium, handing the Briton that exact score.
KAZAN, RUSSIA - AUGUST 01: Tom Daley of Great Britain looks on in the Men's 10m Platform Diving Semi Finals on day eight of the 16th FINA World Championships at the Aquatics Palace on August 1, 2015 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Imag
Garcia faltered just enough in his final dive to give Daley a bit of breathing room, to which the youngster swiftly responded with a spotless last attempt to open up daylight between himself and fourth place.
The official British Swimming Twitter account confirmed Daley's victory, while fellow diver Jack Laugher was also behind his Team GB diving-mate:
It rounds off a particularly pleasant weekend for Daley, who won gold in the team event alongside Rebecca Gallantree, adding his second individual medal at the World Aquatics Championships.
Speaking to BBC Sport's Nick Hope of the burden this weekend's success takes off his shoulders, Daley said:
It's actually a massive relief. Winning with Becky in the team event gave me a bit of confidence, but it wouldn't have meant anything if I hadn't finished in the top 12 today. I've just got to have fun because that's what I remember having in 2009. I wasn't thinking about any of the pressures and just went out there and enjoyed it, so hopefully I can do that again.
Strong form early on in Sunday's Kazan encounter meant the pressure on Daley wasn't as great coming to the final dives.
As confirmed by Hope, Daley was on course for the bronze with two dive attempts left, showing just how well he was able to contend with his peers:
I said Tom Daley would need something massive for a World 10m medal... & he's delivering! 3rd with 2 round to go! 👍 pic.twitter.com/6IoAVICfnQ
— Nick Hope - the athlete’s journalist (@NickHopeTV) August 2, 2015
The British figure will hope Sunday's display can provide a springboard moving toward Rio 2016, where he's likely to once again be one of the major faces of Team GB.
At this stage in his career, Daley stands as one of the elite diving circuit's more experienced members, keeping his cool under pressure to bring a World Championship medal back to British shores.
Michael Phelps at Arena Pro Swim Series 2015: Race Results and Twitter Reaction
Apr 16, 2015
Apr 16, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Michael Phelps wins the Men's 100 meter butterfly final in 52.92 seconds during the 2015 Arena Pro Swim Series at the Skyline Aquatic Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic via USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps is arguably the greatest swimmer of all time and one of the best athletes in Olympic history, but he is entering a new phase of his career with an eye on the 2016 Olympics.
Phelps returned to the pool for his first competitive event since his six-month suspension at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Mesa, Arizona, and looked like his old self with a victory in the 100-meter butterfly Thursday.
Read on for daily updates as Phelps attempts to build on that quick start.
Day 3 Recap
Phelps' only two events on Saturday were the big ones, as the Olympic star took part in the 200-meter individual medley and 100-meter free style. He performed well, winning the 100 and placing third in the 200.
The rivalry between Phelps and Ryan Lochte took center stage during qualifying, with Lochte coming out on top in the preliminary runs. Phelps didn't have problems qualifying for the finals in either event, but he did have work to do if he wanted to walk out of Mesa o a high note.
The 200-meter individual medley final was a similar story, with Lochte coming out on top and Phelps finishing third behind Conor Dwyer (via USA Swimming Live):
Phelps' defeat in that event didn't come out of nowhere. Despite winning gold medals in the 200-meter medley at the past three Olympics, he was the runner-up spot at last year's Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
According to Swimming World, Phelps' third-place finish in the 200-meter race did move him up in the overall world rankings "to just outside the top 20."
Even though Phelps isn't going to be happy about the defeat, he did tell USA Swimming that he expected a tough battle:
No one should have expected peak Phelps because he's just returning after serving a six-month suspension and going all-in against some of the best competition in the world. Lochte isn't exactly chopped liver in a pool.
The event Phelps really needed a great effort in was the 100-meter freestyle. It's the shortest race, he didn't miss a beat in the 100-meter butterfly on Thursday, and it allows him to go all-out without having to conserve energy. He can essentially make like a relief pitcher in baseball who comes in pumping fastballs with everything he's got.
Phelps delivered in the 100-meter freestyle in what may have been the best race of the day. He squeaked past Lochte with a time of 49.72 seconds. Lochte made the touch at 49.77 seconds, per Swimming World on Twitter:
However, as noted in the Swimming World recap linked above, Phelps and Lochte are still a long way off from owning one of the top times in 100-meter freestyle swimming this year:
Michael Phelps called it “just a 100″ this afternoon, but he sure didn’t approach it that way as he captured the men’s 100-meter free title at the Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa.
Phelps threw down a sizzling 49.72 to touchout longtime rival Ryan Lochte, who placed second overall in 49.77. They both still have plenty of time to drop to catch up to the top 20 times in the world currently anchored by Calum Jarvis’ 48.93.
While Phelps "only" went 1-of-2 on Saturday, his return to the pool has to be considered a success. He finished on a positive note with the 100-meter win, placed third in the 200-meter individual medley and won the 100-meter butterfly on Thursday in his first event back.
The 29-year-old still has a lot to work on if he hopes to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, which he said earlier this week to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN) is the goal, but Phelps would also say that given all his time off and the energy he will need over the next 1.5 years, this was a positive step in his comeback.
Day 2
Phelps impressed during the first day of competition, but Friday was one to forget, as espnW noted:
Phelps failed to qualify for the 400-meter freestyle final after posting a time of four minutes, 2.67 seconds. It was good enough for fourth place in his heat and 17th overall, and he elected not to swim in the C final Friday evening.
Phelps also didn’t swim the 100 backstroke preliminaries Friday.
This comeback is not going to be perfect, and there will be disappointing days like Friday, but Phelps already made important strides in the Arena Pro Swim Series.
Commentator Rowdy Gaines discussed this transition back to competition for Phelps, per Seth Rubinroit of UniversalSports.com: “I think last year he wasn’t 100 percent sure he was going to go through with all of this. But now he has it firmly in his mind that yes, he is going to go for Rio. That gives him a lot more focus to allow swimming to be his No. 1 priority the next 16-18 months.”
Next up for Phelps is the 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle, which are both Saturday.
Shorter races are likely more ideal than longer ones for the 29-year-old at this stage of his career, and he will be relatively fresh without any finals appearances Friday evening. Look for him to be much more competitive than he was in the 400-meter race.
Day 1
What's the pool equivalent of ring rust? Whatever it is, Michael Phelps doesn't have it.
The 29-year-old showed up at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Mesa, Arizona, for his first competitive event since his six-month suspension and beat out the competition in the 100-meter butterfly. He finished 0.73 seconds ahead of Ryan Lochte, per USA Swimming Live:
"I'm always hard on myself," he said after the race, per USA Today's Nicole Auerbach. "Being my first race back, I think it's OK. There are probably some things to fix. I think it's a good starting point. I'm looking forward to more to come."
While Phelps clearly wasn't his best, he got off to a solid start and never really had to overcome a serious deficit. He really accelerated off the wall at the halfway mark, and as the race wound down, he opened up a little space between himself and his fellow swimmers. Lochte made a late push, but it wasn't enough to grab the lead.
Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde felt the time wasn't otherworldly, but it represented progress for a swimmer who spent so long out of the pool:
GOAT in the pool: @MichaelPhelps wins comeback swim in 100 fly at Mesa. Time not spectacular, but it doesn't need to be in April 2015.
Phelps qualified for the final after posting the fastest time, 52.92 seconds, in the preliminary meet for the 100-meter butterfly. Tim Phillips made it close at the end, but the 18-time gold medalist edged him out by 0.10 seconds.
Thursday's event was merely the first step in Phelps' comeback attempt. According to The Associated Press (via ESPN.com), he's aiming to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro despite not taking part in the world championships.
"You guys heard it here first," he said Wednesday. "I am looking forward to next year. I don't think it's too hard to really realize why I came back."
It's obviously unrealistic to expect Phelps to be anything close to his old self. The 2008 and 2012 Olympics were a long time ago, and any athlete is bound to decline in the span four to eight years.
With that said, Phelps might not need to shatter records in order to make an impact in Rio, should he get there.
Thursday's meet was a strong first foray back into the pool, and many fans will watch with rapt attention to see if he can continue improving over the coming months.
Michael Phelps: Latest Details, Comments on Possible USA Swimming Reinstatement
Mar 4, 2015
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 24: Michael Phelps of the USA swims the Men's 200m IM heats during day four of the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships at Gold Coast Aquatics on August 24, 2014 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Michael Phelps was stripped of a vital part of his comeback when USA Swimming decided to ban him from the 2015 world championships, but it turns out the 29-year-old superstar could potentially be part of the festivities in July and August after all.
Continue for updates.
World Championships Reinstatement Possible for Phelps
Wednesday, March 4
After getting arrested for driving under the influence, the 22-time Olympic medalist was suspended for six months by USA Swimming, but perhaps most importantly, he was told that he would not be part of the world championships roster despite it reaching beyond his suspension.
With Phelps' suspension reaching its latter stages, Bonnie D. Ford and Wayne Drehs of ESPN.com reported consideration is being given to rescind the world championships ban from Phelps' punishment.
USA Swimming executive director Chuck Wielgus didn't make any promises, but he certainly seemed to leave the door open, per Ford and Drehs.
"It's complicated, but there are ways in which it could happen," Wielgus said. "There's a pathway for things to be reconsidered—or considered."
One person who believes Phelps should be given a chance to compete at the worlds in Kazan, Russia, is teammate Tyler Clary, according to Ford and Drehs.
He's vital. I don't see myself as being a competitor at his level in the 200 IM, and I don't have the same chance of getting a medal.
USA Swimming's six-month suspension was appropriate and strong enough to convey that USA Swimming doesn't condone that kind of behavior from any of its members. Removing Michael from the world championship team, however, will have a negative effect on our team, and taking the term of his punishment into consideration, the meet falls well outside of that time frame.
Not only would allowing Phelps to take part in the world championships help Team USA as a whole, but it would also bolster his preparation for the 2016 Summer Olympics significantly.
Phelps needs to take part in some high-level competitions in order to be at the top of his game in one year, and USA Swimming undoubtedly needs his contributions as well.
Michael Phelps Planning Return to Competitive Swimming at Arena Pro Swim Series
Feb 6, 2015
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 24: Michael Phelps of the USA swims the Men's 200m IM Final during day four of the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships at Gold Coast Aquatics on August 24, 2014 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
United States Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps will return to the pool in a competitive race this April at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Mesa, Arizona.
Phelps told reporters in Germany, via David Wharton of the Los Angeles Times, that being back in the pool has provided some respite recently.
"I've enjoyed lately, more than I really ever have, being back in the water," Phelps said. "I haven't had that kind of excitement ... in a long time."
This will be the second comeback attempt for Phelps, who originally retired after the 2012 Olympics in London. He previously competed at the Arena Grand Prix in May 2014, winning the 100-meter butterfly.
Controversy has filled Phelps' career away from swimming. He pleaded guilty to a DUI charge stemming from a September arrest and was also suspended from the United States swim team for six months. The suspension will end in April.
In October, Phelps said on Twitter that he needed time away to take care of his personal life.
I’m going to take some time away to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself.
At just 29 years old, Phelps has a long road ahead of him to become the role model that it seemed like he could be after winning 22 Olympic medals. Being able to get back into the sport that made him an international superstar should provide some stability.
All eyes will be glued on Phelps because of how dynamic he is in a pool. He's getting old by the standards of competitive swimmers, yet the last time he competed turned out to be a success. Nearly one year later, there's no reason to think he won't be able to pull off another victory.
Park Tae-Hwan, South Korea's 1st Olympic Swimming Champion, Fails Doping Test
Jan 27, 2015
FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2014 file photo, South Korea's Park Tae-hwan adjusts his goggles after competing a men's 200-meter freestyle swimming heat at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. South Korea's former Olympic swim champion Park Tae-hwan has failed a recent doping test, his agency said Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
Park Tae-hwan, South Korea's first Olympic swimming gold medalist, is "shocked" to have failed a doping test.
BBC News reports the examination in question took place during September's Asian Games and was overseen by FINA, the sport's governing body.
Park's representatives suggest the positive result is due to a doctor's mistake after Park was allegedly administered with an illegal substance while receiving treatment from a chiropractor. It is suggested Park "asked" the doctor to ensure his injection adhered to all of the sport's guidelines before being inserted.
The 25-year-old's agency provided an official statement, reported by BBC News.
"As a world class swimmer, Park Tae-hwan has been extremely careful about what he takes, and he hasn't even taken cold medicine so that he wouldn't fail doping tests," the statement reads. "Park is more shocked by this result than anyone else."
Team GMP also suggested court action will be taken, saying the organisation will "hold (the hospital) civilly and criminally liable" for Park's result.
A spokesman for the World Anti-Doping Agency—who usually carry out such tests—confirmed Park will face an international hearing before potential punishment is received. "A world-class swimmer like Park is tested frequently out of competition," said a WADA official, per Yonhap News Agency (h/t BBC News). "The severity of his penalty will be determined after his hearing."
BEIJING - AUGUST 10: Park Taehwan of South Korea poses with the gold medal during the medal ceremony for the Men's 400m Freestyle event held at the National Aquatics Center during day 2 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing, Chi
The Associated Press (h/t Yahoo) report suggests prosecutors "couldn't immediately be reached for comments." It's also stated the Korean Swimming Federation is yet to officially confirm Yonhap's assertions.
Park is an extremely popular sportsman in South Korea after winning the country's first swimming medal, which came at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Park's gold medal was won in the 400-meter freestyle in China, where he also added another silver before securing two further second-place finishes in London 2012. His quartet of successes remain the nation's only medals in Olympic swimming to date.
Doping charges can be met with a two-year ban, according to the AP report (h/t Yahoo), which states Park can expect his hearing in February.
The 12th FINA Swimming World Championships (25 metres) got underway Wednesday in Doha with the 2014 edition welcoming athletes from 160 different countries...
Woman Claims to Be Michael Phelps' Girlfriend and Reveals She Was Born Intersex
Nov 20, 2014
A woman named Taylor Lianne Chandler has gone to Facebook with claims that she is Michael Phelps' girlfriend, in addition to revealing she was born intersex.
The eighteen-time Olympic gold medalist spent most of October in a rehab centre after being arrested for driving under the influence in September. Phelps has not commented publicly on the alleged relationship, nor has any evidence emerged to substantiate Chandler’s claims.
Chandler, 41, says she met Phelps on the dating app Tinder. She went on to describe their supposed relationship in her post:
I am probably going to lose him because he is a brand that his team wants to protect and things since he went to rehab came to my attention that didn’t put him or our relationship in the best light. He is the first man I ever had intimacy with and felt comfortable and all woman. When he went to rehab I had to go through all this scrutiny and tabloid mess by myself. His team at Octagon abandoned me, whether he knows that or not I do not know.
A general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. For example, a person might be born appearing to be female on the outside, but having mostly male-typical anatomy on the inside. Or a person may be born with genitals that seem to be in-between the usual male and female types.
Chandler outlined her journey, stating that she has never told some people about her past.
She writes:
By the time I could walk and talk I made it clear I was a girl and dressed as one. In my early teens I was medically diagnosed and went on testosterone blockers, at 15 estrogen enhancers. My birth certificate was modified along with my name while I was a teenager, prior to any corrective surgery.
[...]
The problem is I have made friends that I never told and dated and married people that knew nothing of my past. If you don’t understand what intersex is, Google it. I was never a man, never lived as a man. No one can say they knew me as a man or produce a photo of me as a man.
Chandler wrote her Facebook post on November 13, but it has only now been widely picked up by media outlets such as the Daily Mailand Daily Mirror.
On Wednesday, she wrote, "Heard from Michael he is out of rehab and back home," while also expressing frustration about how her story is being reported.
Two steps forward and 100 steps backwards. That is what life feels like to me right now. In a world of educated people that had all the facts of intersex and what it means and then to sell a magazine say Michael Phelps is dating a MAN. I have cried now for an hour, thrown up anything in my system till I dry heaved. I just can't believe this is happening in 2014!
Missy Franklin Injury: Updates on Swimming Star's Back and Return
Aug 19, 2014
Missy Franklin smiles before swimming in the women's 200-meter freestyle at the U.S. national championships, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, in Irvine, Calif. Franklin took second in the event. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Updates from Wednesday, Aug. 20
Communications Director of US Swimming Scott Leightman has an encouraging update regarding Missy Franklin's back:
Original Text
American swimming sensation Missy Franklin is uncertain for the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships after leaving Tuesday's practice with back spasms.
The 19-year-old University of California sophomore is currently in Australia in preparation for the Championships, which begin Thursday. According to the New York Times' Karen Crouse, however, she had to skip practice Wednesday morning, while she is uncertain for her tuneups in the 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke on Thursday.
Franklin took to Twitter to provide an update, and she didn't sound too concerned.
Still, News Corp's Todd Balym reported she had to be carried from the pool, so it's not something to completely ignore. With so little time to recover, it would appear she'll either have to skip the Championships or race at less than full strength. The Chicago Tribune's Philip Hersh noted why the former route could be detrimental for her status at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing:
It was at the 2011 World Championships that Franklin truly burst onto the national scene, grabbing six gold medals.
If she's forced to miss the Pan Pacific Championships or be limited in any way, it would unquestionably be a major blow for Team USA. Hopefully she is able to make a quick recovery, because the sport is better when the four-time Olympic gold medalist is in the pool.
