U.S. Olympic swim trials: Michael Phelps is headed to Rio

Michael Phelps is heading back to the Olympics.

So is Missy Franklin.

Phelps, the most decorated athlete in Olympic history, held off a stiff challenge from Tom Shields to win the 200-metre butterfly at the U.S. swimming trials Wednesday night. Phelps whipped around to look at his time — a bit slower than he probably would've liked — and held up all five fingers on his right hand.

Yep, it's Olympics No. 5, making him the first male swimmer to compete in that many Summer Games.

"I think that means the most tonight," Phelps said, pausing to compose himself. "Just being able to finish how I want to is so important to me. Getting on this team is what I wanted to do."

Franklin, meanwhile, turned in one of the gutsiest performances of her career to earn a spot for Rio in the 200 freestyle. One night after she struggled to seventh in the 100 backstroke — an event she won four years ago in London — there was plenty of speculation that she'd be hard-pressed to qualify for any individual events at these games.

While Katie Ledecky romped to victory in the 200 free, earning a second individual event at the Olympics, Franklin rallied over the second half of the race to claim the runner-up spot.

"Last night was really tough and coming back from that, I was telling myself, `I'm not done fighting. I'm not done with believing in myself,"' Franklin said. "That's probably the most proud race I've ever swam in my entire career, coming back from such a loss last night and telling myself that I still have it in me to do whatever I believe I can do."

Phelps, who retired after the last Olympics but soon reversed his decision, took the 200 fly in 1:54.84 — far off the world record of 1:51.51 he set at the 2009 world championships while wearing one of the high-tech suits that have since been banned.

Phelps reflected on his stumbles since London, most notably a second drunken driving arrest that prompted him to take a whole new look at his life. He reconnected with his long-estranged father, got engaged, gave up alcohol and committed himself to closing his career with a flourish.

"With everything that's happened and being able to come back, that was probably harder than any swim I've had in my life," Phelps said. "It's probably more nerve-wracking here than it is at the Olympics."

Adams saved by review

Cammile Adams got a scare Wednesday when she was disqualified from the 200-metre butterfly after posting the fastest qualifying time in the preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials. After a video review, the decision was overturned and she remained in the hunt for a spot on her second straight Olympic team.

A deck official initially ruled Adams was on her back instead of her stomach coming off the 150-metre wall, and she was disqualified, which triggers an underwater review. Adams' time of two minutes, 8.29 seconds was fastest among 16 qualifiers for the semifinals.

"When I saw it, obviously a little bit of panic, a lot of panic," Adams said. "But just really thankful for the system we have. I got to go back to the head official and just look at the underwater camera. With it being overturned, obviously I'm very, very thankful."

Adams finished fifth in the 200-metre butterfly event at the 2012 London Olympics.

Lochte needs treatment for groin

In other preliminaries, defending Olympic champion Nathan Adrian was the top qualifier in the 100-metre freestyle in 48.43 seconds. Also advancing to the evening semifinals was Anthony Ervin, who at 35 years of age is the oldest man competing at trials.

Ryan Lochte qualified sixth-fastest but dropped out to get further treatment for a groin injury that has compromised his performances at trials. He is focused on making the team in the 200-metre individual medley, which starts Thursday. Lochte is already going to Rio de Janeiro as a relay swimmer, but he also wants to swim an individual event.

Kevin Cordes was the top qualifier in the 200-metre breaststroke with a time of 2:08.54. He already made the U.S. team in the 100-metre breaststroke.