ROME – Michael Phelps and the US 400-meter medley relay team closed the fastest meet in swimming history with an appropriate finish Sunday night – the 43rd world record.
Phelps earned his fifth gold medal of a world championships that showed he’s still got plenty of motivation, even after winning a record eight times at the Beijing Olympics.
Swimming the butterfly leg, Phelps helped the US pull away from Germany and Australia to win in 3 minutes, 27.28 seconds. That easily broke the mark set by the Americans at last year’s Olympics, 3:29.34.
“That relay brings out the best in me,” Phelps said. “That’s sort of what competing does. It doesn’t matter how much energy I have, it’s all going to go into every race. That’s one of the things that I enjoy most – stepping out onto the blocks no matter what kind of shape I’m in.”
Phelps took six months off after his Beijing triumph, received a three-month suspension from competition after that infamous marijuana pipe photo came out – and he was still named the most outstanding male swimmer of the championships. Italy’s Federica Pellegrini received the female award.
“I have more things I want to do,” Phelps said. “That’s why I wanted to come back. I don’t care if anyone says it was a bad idea or not, it’s something that I wanted and that’s why I’m doing it.”
His coach, Bob Bowman, said Phelps will get all of two weeks off before he’s back in the pool.
“I’ve got to be in better shape,” Phelps said. “That’s the biggest thing. I’ve got to get my body back in better shape. I think without taking six months off, that will do it.”
Eric Shanteau, who overcame testicular cancer to swim his best times, picked up the first major gold medal of his career on the breaststroke leg of relay, to go along with a silver and bronze in Rome. The other members of the winning team were backstroker Aaron Peirsol and David Walters, swimming the freestyle anchor. (AP)