RIO DE JANEIRO — Vintage Michael Phelps remains a thing of beauty.
For much of his 200 butterfly semifinal, that's what he showed. He took it out fast, and swam with a focused energy he didn't have in his earlier preliminary heat.
Phelps ultimately qualified second for Tuesday night's 200 fly final behind Hungary's Tamas Kenderesi, who closed well and touched at 1:53.96. Phelps was pleased with his qualifying time (1:54.12) and said he's got a few little tweaks he knows he needs to make.
Hungary's Laszlo Cseh and South Africa's Chad le Clos — the reigning Olympic gold medalist in this event — qualified third and fourth, respectively.
Phelps won silver in the 200 fly in London, and said he expects much to be made about both Tuesday's final itself and also the rivalry between him and le Clos.
Asked about video captured of le Clos apparently dancing and/or shadow boxing in the ready room in front of a stoic Phelps, Phelps said everyone has different race strategies.
"If that's his, that's his," Phelps said.
