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Phelps struggles to advance in 400 IM

By Charean Williams, McClatchy Newspapers –

LONDON — Michael Phelps isn’t after eight gold medals this Olympics, but he wouldn’t mind seven. That task got harder after Saturday morning.

Phelps barely qualified for the finals of the 400-meter individual medley, out-touching Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh for the eighth and final spot in Saturday night’s final.

“A final spot is a final spot,” Phelps said. “…The only thing that matters is really getting a spot in. You can’t win the gold medal from the morning.”

Phelps could become the first male swimmer to repeat as the gold medalist in the same individual event at three consecutive Olympics. But he’ll have to do it from Lane 1 instead of a middle lane.

He swam a 4:13.33, only seven-hundredths of a second from not making the final. Japan’s Kosuke Hagino had the fastest time (4:10.01), with South Africa’s Chad le Clos the second-fastest (4:12.24). American Ryan Lochte advanced in third in 4:12.35.

“That one didn’t feel too good,” Phelps said. “I didn’t expect those guys to go that fast in the third heat. I don’t know. I just wanted to try to get some good underwater, try to get some good turns, so I can carry my speed in and out of the walls.”

Americans have owned the event, winning the last four gold medals. Hungary’s Tamas Darnyi is the last non-American to win gold in the 400 IM, taking it in 1992 over American Eric Namesnik.

Lochte might have the best shot to keep American streak alive Saturday night.

He won the bronze in the 400 IM at the 2008 Games, and he beat Phelps in the event at the Olympic Trials. He also is the world champion in the 400 IM.

Swimming enthusiasts have been awaiting the Phelps/Lochte showdowns in the Olympics. But if the heats are any indication, the head-to-head matchup might not end as anticipated with a 1-2 American finish.

“You know what? It’s hard. It’s a tough field,” Lochte said. “But (Phelps) is in. You can’t count him out. Even though he just squeaked in eighth, he’s a racer. We’re going to do everything we can to go 1-2 tonight.”

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