Olympic champion Michael Phelps lost twice at the Charlotte Ultraswim this weekend after returning from a three-month suspension.
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Aaron Peirsol beat Phelps in the 200 backstroke Saturday, while France’s Frederick Bousquet beat Phelps in the 100-meter freestyle Sunday.
“The biggest things that killed me were my turns and my finishes,” Phelps said. “My turn and my finish were awful.”
Phelps had not competed in nine months since prevailing in Beijing with eight gold medals.
“For my first meet back, I have no complaints.”
Phelps finished first in two events, second in two events, and took an incomplete when he quit the 50-meter freestyle final.
Bolt Breaks 150-Meter Dash Record
Usain Bolt added another world record to his collection, setting a new standard in the 150-meter dash in a street race in Manchester, England on Sunday.
The Jamaican Olympic triple gold medalist crossed the finish line with a time of 14.35 seconds, breaking the record in the 150 meters of 14.80 set by Italy’s Pietro Mennea in 1983.
It is the first race for Bolt since a car accident in Jamaica last month that resulted in foot surgery for the Olympic champion.
It is the third world record held by Bolt, who set new marks in both the 100 and 200 in his gold medal-winning performances at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
“I am now going away to put in some hard work. I am only in 70 percent in shape and I would hope to peak for the World Championships in Berlin in August. I want to try to break even more world records this summer,” Bolt is quoted as saying.
FIG to Require Gymnasts to Carry ID
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has decided to require passport-type identification at all of its major competitions from its athletes to verify their eligibility to compete.
The introduction of the new IDs comes after allegations at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing that some of the members of the Chinese women’s team were under the required age of 16.
The ID will be required for the Olympics, world and continental championships, World Cup series, international age group competitions and all FIG-sponsored competition and tournaments among the national federations.
Requirement of the IDs will begin with the world artistic gymnastics championships in London Oct. 13-18.
Madrid’s Magic Box Hosts First Tennis Tournament
Madrid’s Magic Box made its debut as a tennis facility last week. The potential venue for the 2016 Summer Olympics hosted the Madrid Masters tournament.
The tournament concluded on Sunday as Switzerland’s Roger Federer, the number two player in the world, defeated top-ranked Spaniard Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the championship match before 12,500 fans and millions of television viewers in Spain and the rest of the world.
The Magic Box, which features a main court and two other courts with retractable roofs, received praise after the tournament from Nadal, who called the main court “spectacular.”
The new facility also earned kudos from the IOC Evaluation Committee during its visit to Madrid two weeks ago as part of its tour of the four 2016 candidate cities, calling it “most impressive.”
Said Madrid 2016 CEO Mercedes Cohen in a press release, “The Madrid Masters is just another example of what our city can achieve. The city has hosted more than 200 major events in the past 10 years and we now have another top event firmly on Madrid’s sporting calendar.”
Briefs…
…Olympic marathon runner Catherine Ndereba is running for a seat on the executive committee of Kenya’s National Olympic Committee in elections on Friday. Ndereba, who won the silver medal in the women’s marathon in Beijing last year, is among the six candidates who are vying for three seats on the committee.
…The Ghana Olympic Committee has introduced a national four-year sponsorship initiative to help raise funds for Ghanian athletes for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London as well as the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore, the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.
Written by Greg Oshust and Isia Reaves.
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