Michael Phelps flying again, as 18-time Olympic gold medallist clocks fastest 200m butterfly this year
Competing at US nationals in San Antonio, American eclipses Hungarian Laszlo Cseh's world championship-winning time of 1:53.48
Michael Phelps shows the kind of form that still makes him a formidable force as the Rio Olympics approach, clocking a stunning one minute, 52.94 seconds to win the 200m butterfly at the US swimming championships in San Antonio, Texas.
"This next year is going to be pretty damn fun," a laughing Phelps said after posting the fastest time in the world this year - eclipsing Hungarian Laszlo Cseh's world championship-winning time of 1:53.48 in Kazan, Russia, last week.
It is the fastest time Phelps has produced in the event since he set the world record of 1:51.51 in 2009 - and is two-hundredths of a second faster than the 1:52.96 South African Chad Le Clos swam to deny Phelps gold in London in 2012.
"It's a good feeling to be back," Phelps said. "I think we're in a pretty good place right now."
Phelps was cheered wildly by fans in San Antonio, who stamped on the bleachers and screamed as he squinted to see his time.