ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michael Phelps had a disappointing finish in the Michigan Grand Prix, placing second in the 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle Sunday.
“I hate losing, no matter what event, no matter how out of shape, tired, broken down – you can say whatever you want,” Phelps said. “I don’t care. I hate it.”
Phelps won three events in the three-day meet after taking five last month in the Indianapolis Grand Prix.
The 14-time Olympic gold medalist led the 200 individual medley with 50 meters remaining, but was passed down the stretch by Ous Mellouli, who finished in a pool-record 1:59.42. Phelps finished in 1:59.63.
Phelps said after the race that he didn’t see Mellouli coming in the final 15 meters, giving Mellouli an open window of opportunity.
“I was just swimming my own race and I took a quick peek at (Phelps) toward the 25-meter mark,” Mellouli said. “I just put my head down and raced to the wall at the end.”
In the 100 freestyle, Phelps allowed Cesar Cielo Fillho to build an early lead and never made up the gap. The Brazilian finished in 49.12, and Phelps had a time of 49.48.
Phelps said he will be fueled by comments from fellow competitors over the weekend.
“It’s good,” he said. “It’s what I need.”
The next Grand Prix meet is May 12-15 in Charlotte, N.C., on May 12-15.
“There are a lot of things on the to-do list, there are a lot of things that need to change,” Phelps said. “The small things are what are going to add up to the big picture at the end of the road and that’s what I need to get in my head and put them into use and not just talk about them any more.”
Also Sunday, Tyler Clary had the second-fastest time in the world this year in the 200 backstroke, winning in 1:56.61.
(This version CORRECTS Deletes incorrect reference in fifth parapgraph to Phelps’ “first loss in the event since 2002”)
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