Phelps wins, Sjostrom, Ledecky shine in Texas

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Olympic superstar Michael Phelps won the 100m freestyle at the Pro Swim meeting in Austin, Texas, on Friday, sharing the opening day spotlight with Sarah Sjostrom and Katie Ledecky. Phelps, out of retirement and aiming to add to his record tally of 18 Olympic gold medals at the Rio Games in August, powered home to win the 100m butterfly in 51.94sec, with fellow American Tom Shields second in 52.39 and Tim Phillips third in 52.61.

“I’m happy to be able to do that double and go 51.9,” said Phelps, who also swam 49.77 in the men’s 100m free, good for sixth in a race won by America’s 2012 Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian in 48.91. France’s Jeremy Stravius was second in 48.96, with American Jimmy Feigen third in 49.20. Sweden’s Sjostrom produced a gold medal double, winning the 100m butterfly and 100m free in US Open records.

Sjostrom, who twice lowered the 100m fly world record in winning the world title at Kazan, Russia, last year, edged 2012 Olympic gold medalist Dana Vollmer of the United States with a time of 56.38 to Vollmer’s 57.61. Sjostrom won the 100m free in 53.12 with Ledecky, better known for her dominance in distance freestyle, second in a personal best of 53.75. (AFP)

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