Phelps entered in 9 events at US Olympic trials

[June 19, 2008]  OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Michael Phelps is entered in nine events at next week's U.S. Olympic swimming trials. The six-time Olympic gold medalist plans an ambitious schedule for the eight-day trials, which begin June 29.

Phelps is entered in the 100- and 200-meter freestyles, the 200 and 400 individual medleys, the 100 and 200 backstrokes, the 100 and 200 butterflys and the 400 free.

Katie Hoff will be nearly as busy. She is entered in seven events in an attempt to make her second Olympic team.

The trials' schedule mimics the order of races at the Beijing Games in August.

Phelps is the world record holder in four events -- the 200 free, 200 IM, 200 fly and 400 IM -- all of which he set at last year's world championships in Australia.

As in 2004, Phelps' Olympic goal is to break Mark Spitz's 32-year-old record of seven gold medals in a single games.

Four years ago, Phelps qualified for the Olympics in six individual events, but dropped the 200 back and swam all three relays. In Athens, he tied the record for medals at one Olympics with six golds and two bronzes.

This year's trials will be held in a temporary pool indoors at the Qwest Center.

[Associated Press]

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