Phelps catches breath for final push to history

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING, (AFP) — Michael Phelps came up for air Thursday morning, swimming just the semi-finals of the men's 200m individual medley as he positioned himself for the next step on his road to Olympic history.

"I just wanted to win my heat," said Phelps, who did so in 1min 57.70, second-quickest heading into the final behind the 1:57.69 of teammate Ryan Lochte.

"I guess it's going to be me and Ryan in the middle tomorrow," said Phelps, who owns the world record in the event of 1:54.80. "It's fine. It's all I wanted to do. Tomorrow is going to be the real battle."

Phelps won two golds on Wednesday, in the 200m butterfly and 4x200m freestyle relay, taking his tally in Beijing to five.

With his six golds from Athens he now owns the most golds of any...