Marcin Cieslak beats Michael Phelps in the 100m butterfly at the 2011 Erik Namesnik Grand Prix
2008 Beijing gold medallist, Michael Phelps lost the preliminary rounds of the 100m butterfly on the first day of the 2011 Erik Namesnik Grand Prix on Saturday.
Phelps finished the race third behind Marcin Cieslak of Una Gsc-FL with a difference of 0.73 seconds.
He has been the apple of the eye of many American citizens and most of the swimming world after he won eight gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Phelps has been on the verge of disappointment after losing the heats of 100m event.
Phelps recently lost the 200m freestyle preliminary rounds by qualifying as the eighth fastest swimmer going into the 200m final. He was only 0.11 seconds faster than his following swimmer, which means that he would have lost his berth in the final round
if he had touched slower 0.11 seconds.
Michael won eight gold medals in Beijing in the events of 100m butterfly, 200m Individual Medley, 200m butterfly, 400m IM, 200m freestyle, 4*100m freestyle relay, 4*200m freestyle relay and the 4*100m medley relay. He has been trying to meet the crowd’s
expectations for the last two years but has failed to achieve in several tournaments. He lost his main events to his rival Ryan Lochte in 2010-11, but lifted himself once at the 2011 Indianapolis Grand Prix, where he managed to win five gold medals, defeating
Lochte in the 200m IM.
Phelps now faces the dilemma of passing Marcin Cieslak and Brazilian Cielo Filho, who have posted 53.14 and 53.83 seconds to occupy the top two spots going into the final. He is only 0.04 seconds away from the second place finisher, while 0.73 seconds slower
than Cieslak. Phelps is followed by his team member Christopher Brady and Wolverine Club’s Peng Wu, who touched the wall in 53.91 and 54.20 seconds respectively. Brazilian Mil T’s Henrique Martins posted a time of 54.33 seconds ahead of the Brazilian SF’s
Gab Mangabeira and Davis Tarwater, who touched the wall in 54.43 and 54.48 seconds respectively
The importance of this championship is due to the fact that it precedes the 2011 World Championships scheduled to take place in Shanghai this July.
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