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Phelps takes on three world record holders, beats one

Michael Phelps swims the breaststroke leg of the men's 200-yard individual medley at the Southern California Swimming Grand Prix in Long Beach, California, on Monday. Phelps later won the backstroke event to beat Aaron Piersol. PHOTO: AP

Michael Phelps won one out of three events in his coach's experiment of taking on world record holders in the 100-yard (91m) butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke in the Southern California Grand Prix of Swimming on Monday.

"I'm tired," he said, grinning.

Phelps topped backstroke king Aaron Peirsol, winning in 45.90 seconds. Peter Marshall was second and Peirsol, who has dominated the stroke, finished third.

"I got rocked," Peirsol said. "Michael's been having a great meet, so I knew he'd do something good."

Phelps proved no match for Brendan Hansen in the breaststroke. Hansen won in 52.81, with Phelps second in 54.67 -- more than a second under his best time.

In the butterfly, Ian Crocker beat Phelps, winning in 45.23. Phelps finished in 46.05.

Crocker's style is to take a race out fast and he did so with Phelps in the field.

"He gets the adrenaline going," Crocker said. "It brings out the best in you. I knew if I put him enough away early on the first 50 he wouldn't get me."
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