Michael Phelps (left) and Ryan Lochte are off the blocks to start a 200 IM semifinal heat; both reached the final.
LONDON - Michael Phelps opened the defense of his title in the 200-meter individual medley at the London Games on Wednesday, hours after becoming the most-decorated Olympian ever with his 19th career medal.
Phelps and Ryan Lochte will go head-to-head in an individual final for the second and last time in these Games on Thursday in the 200 IM. Lochte finished with the best time in the semifinals Wednesday night, swimming 1 minute, 56.13 seconds. Phelps had the third-best time, 1:57.11.
Hungary's Laszlo Cseh was second at 1:56.74.
Phelps had the fourth-fastest time in the preliminaries, 1:58.24. He said he didn't get back to his room at the athletes village on Tuesday until midnight.
Phelps woke up and checked his Twitter account Wednesday morning, saying he found "thousands of mentions" of his historic accomplishment.
"It was pretty cool," he said. "I really didn't get much sleep last night. I didn't warm down at all. This morning didn't feel too comfortable."
On the way to the pool, Phelps got a call from President Obama, congratulating him on becoming the most-decorated athlete in Olympic history.
Lochte also had to swim two rounds in the 200 backstroke, making it one of his toughest days in London.
"It was kind of hard stepping up in the morning," he said. "All that celebrating takes a lot of energy out of you."
Lochte is seeking his first gold in the 200 IM. He won the bronze four years ago in Beijing, and was second behind Phelps at the 2004 Athens Games. Phelps is trying to become the first male swimmer to win the same individual event in three consecutive Olympics.
Lochte posted the second-fastest time in the backstroke semis, his time of 1:55.40 trailing only fellow American Tyler Clary's 1:54.71.
Lochte is trying to defend the gold he won in the 200 backstroke in 2008. He also is looking to get back on track after two disappointing finishes. He won the 400 IM in dominating fashion on Day 1 of the swimming competition, then faltered as the anchor of the 4x100 freestyle relay and finished fourth in the 200 free.
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