Phelps going to fifth Olympics

Omaha (US), June 30 

Michael Phelps is headed to a fifth Olympics in the event that launched his epic Games career — the 200m butterfly.

Phelps, whose record 22 Olympics medals include an astonishing 18 gold, won the 200m fly at the US Olympics swimming trials yesterday, and if the time of 1 minutes, 54.84 seconds left something to be desired, it got the job done. “I’m checking a box off, being able to get on the team,” said Phelps, who faded on the final lap but was able to hold off the determined Tom Shields, who took second in 1:55.81.

“With everything that’s happened, being able to come back — this was probably harder than any swim I’ve had in my life,” said Phelps, whose comeback after a brief post-London retirement was disrupted by a drink-driving arrest followed by a stint in rehab.

“I didn’t feel good the first two swims, didn’t really feel that good tonight,” added Phelps, who celebrates his 31st birthday on Thursday. “But getting on the team was the most important thing, and that’s the only thing I had to do tonight.”

Russian star Isinbayeva applies to compete in Rio 

Moscow: Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva has applied to world athletics governing body IAAF to compete at the Rio Olympics despite Russia’s ban, athletics authorities in Moscow said today. “Isinbayeva sent her application on Wednesday,” Alla Glushchenko, the spokeswoman for the Russian athletics federation, said.

The IAAF voted this month to maintain Russia’s suspension over evidence of state-sponsored doping in athletics but left the door ajar for a few clean Russian athletes to compete in Rio as neutrals.

The IAAF proposed that Russian athletes apply for reinstatement on a case-by-case basis based on drug testing from credible programmes outside Russia.

Isinbayeva last week won the Russian national title with a 4.90m vault, the highest result recorded internationally this season. — AFP