Phelps misses out on final

Olympic multi-medallist Michael Phelps swam a short-course personal best in the 100metres butterfly this morning but again failed to make the final at the FINA World Cup in Stockholm.

The 24-year-old’s time of 51.06seconds may have been a best for the American but it was only good for 11th, although he was joint second into the 200m individual medley final.

It followed his efforts yesterday when he was third in the 100m individual medley but 16th in the 100m freestyle and disqualified from the 100m backstroke.

However, the 14-time Olympic champion has eschewed the high-tech bodysuit his opponents donned and instead is wearing the textile-only shorts that will be mandatory from January 1.

As well as anticipating the FINA ban with his 2010 attire, Phelps was sporting a beard and admitted he was not in the best shape coming into the meet.

As such any shock over his placings in Sweden is unfounded as comparisons between him and his polyurethane-clad rivals are impossible.

He said last night: “The most exciting thing for me is racing. That’s really what I enjoy the most. I’ll be the first one to admit my training hasn’t been great and I know that.”

More than 200 world records have been set since the advent of the supersuits in February 2008 with four more falling yesterday – including two in the 50m backstroke for Zhao Jing – while this morning Jessica Hardy lowered the 50m breaststroke mark she set herself days ago in Moscow.

Phelps will move on to Berlin where he will face Paul Biedermann who claimed his world record and title in the 200m freestyle at the World Championships in Rome although a confrontation can only be meaningful if there is consistency of attire.

Next stop after that will be the British Gas Duel in the Pool in Manchester.