Phelps Finally Loses

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted May 16, 2009 10:49 PM CDT
Phelps Finally Loses
Michael Phelps, left, shakes hands with Olympic gold medalist Aaron Peirsol after Peirsol won.   (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Michael Phelps has proven he can be all too human outside the pool, and now there's proof he can be human inside it as well. The Olympic star lost his first race in a year tonight when Aaron Peirsol of California beat him in the backstroke at the Charlotte Grand Prix, reports Reuters. It's actually not a huge shock: Phelps didn't compete in the backstroke at the Olympics, where Peirsol took the gold.

"I don't like to lose and Aaron has the upper hand in our races right now," said Phelps, after his second day of competition since his pot suspension ended. Said Peirsol: "I definitely wanted to win that. (Phelps) is always up for it. He doesn't like to lose so I have to go in there with the same mentality." Phelps can resume his immortal ways Sunday when he competes in the 100-meter freestyle.
(More Michael Phelps stories.)

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