THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two days, two losses for Michael Phelps.
Phelps was beaten again at the Charlotte UltraSwim on Sunday night, losing to Frederick Bousquet of France in the 100-metre freestyle.
Phelps touched nearly a full second behind Bousquet, world-record holder in the 50 free, after losing his first final in nearly a year. Aaron Peirsol beat Phelps in the 200 backstroke on Saturday.
Bousquet went out strong, ensuring he had a big enough lead to hold off Phelps at the end — even as the winningest Olympian ever experimented with a new straight-arm stroke that is supposed to provide more speed.
The Frenchman touched in 48.22 seconds, while Phelps never really had a chance while finishing second in 49.04.
"The biggest thing that killed me were my turns and my finishes," Phelps said. "I’m not disappointed with that time, but finish was awful. There’s small things I need to work on.
"But overall, it was a good meet."
He was competing for the first time since capturing a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.
The nine-month layoff was the longest of his career, although he had intended to come back earlier.
However, after being photographed using a marijuana pipe, a picture that wound up on the front page of a British tabloid, he was given a three-month suspension by USA Swimming.
The sanction ended May 5, and Phelps was eager to start competing again. He entered five events at Charlotte and won the first two, the 200 free and the 100 backstroke.
Three Canadians earned medals Sunday.
Lindsay Seeman of Newmarket, Ont., and Annie Harrison of Oakville, Ont., both reached the podium in the women’s 200 backstroke. Elizabeth Beise of the U.S., won the gold medal in two minutes and 11.88 seconds, followed by Seeman at 2:13.63 and Harrison in 2:14.28.
Barbara Jardin of Montreal was fifth in 2:15.27.
It was Seeman’s second medal of the competition. On Thursday, the 2008 Olympic team member won a bronze medal in the 800 freestyle.
Montreal’s Victoria Poon stepped on the podium for the fourth time this week, finishing third in the women’s 100 freestyle in 55.61. Amanda Weir of the U.S., won the race in 54.06 and Christine Magnuson of the U.S., was second in 55.27.
On Saturday, Poon broke the Canadian record in the 50 freestyle clocking 25.42 seconds. She was also a member of the gold medal winning 4×100 freestyle and 4×100 medley relays with her club, the Club de natation des Piscine du Parc Olympique de Montreal on Friday and Saturday.
Matthew Swanston of Newmarket was fourth in the men’s 200 IM and Stephanie Horner of Montreal eighth in the women’s 200 IM.
–With files from The Canadian Press.