Phelps wins 200m medley in US winter swimming

The 30-year-old Phelps on Thursday finished in one minute 57.61 seconds for the title. The result was 1.69 seconds quicker than his time three weeks ago in Minneapolis.

Michael Phelps, a record 18-time Olympic champion, has tried to make changes since a second drunk-driving arrest in 2014.

American legend Michael Phelps won the men’s 200 metres individual medley at the United States Winter Swimming Championships at the King Aquatic Center.

The 30-year-old Phelps on Thursday finished in one minute 57.61 seconds for the title. The result was 1.69 seconds quicker than his time three weeks ago in Minneapolis, but was still almost three seconds slower than his best time this year, reports Xinhua.

Phelps, Missy Franklin and Natalie Coughlin, who are the Olympic champions, will compete in the 100m butterfly on Friday and the 200m butterfly Saturday.

High expectations will be placed on Phelps as he is named US Swimming’s male athlete of the year despite not competing at the World Championships in Russia.

Phelps, a record 18-time Olympic champion, has tried to make changes since a second drunk-driving arrest in 2014, which removed him from the US world team.