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Gold medalist Phelps wins two of three

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps starts in the 100-yard backstroke during this year's Toyota Grand Prix of Swimming at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool on Monday in Long Beach, California. Phelps won with a time of 45.50. PHOTO: AP

Michael Phelps went 2-for-3 in consecutive events at the Southern California Grand Prix on Monday, swimming faster times in each than he did a year ago.

Phelps opened with the 100-yard butterfly, coming from behind to beat Matt Grevers in 45.40 seconds.

About 40 minutes later, the six-time Olympic gold medalist returned for the 100 backstroke. Phelps again rallied to beat Peter Marshall and Grevers, touching in 45.50 seconds.

Then 45 minutes later, Phelps hit the water for the 100 breaststroke and got beat by 2004 Olympian Mark Gangloff, who finished first in 53.09. Phelps was timed in 53.41 -- his best by 1.2 seconds.

"Mark is the second-fastest breaststroker we have," Phelps said. "I saw him at 75 [yards] and I was hoping I could get a dolphin kick and get past him."

Gangloff knew where Phelps was in the water.

"Breaststroke is my thing and I got him," he said. "That's not his best stroke so I had to have some pride. He pushes me to be better than I normally would be, so I can't really complain that he was in there."

Phelps won five of six finals over three days of short-course swimming at Belmont Plaza's indoor pool, the same place he opened last season.

"It surpassed my expectations. He's a lot faster than he was a year ago at this time and that was his best season ever," said Bob Bowman, Phelps' coach whose job it is to find fault. "There's some things he's got to work on. He's got some really poor turns in the 100 fly. He's still trying to get back to his peak fitness level, but he's getting closer."

Last year, Phelps produced the greatest performance in world championship history, setting four individual world records and winning seven gold medals.

So what do his faster times mean this year?

"I hope it's even better than '07," he said. "I'm more relaxed this year than I was last year. The most important thing for me is keeping a steady program of training. Week after week, month after month of stronger training is the best thing that's going to help me accomplish my goals this year."

A year ago in Long Beach, Phelps won the 100 back and lost the 100 breaststroke and 100 fly on the final night against world record-holders in each event.

Grevers topped Phelps in overall points to earn the men's award, which almost always goes to Phelps at meets. Grevers won the 200 individual medley on the final night to go with earlier wins in the 50 free, 200 free and 200 back. He was second to Phelps in the 100 free on Saturday.
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