INQUIRER Sports

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina ? Michael Phelps was beaten again at the Charlotte UltraSwim on Sunday night, losing to Frederick Bousquet of France in the 100-meter 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 Beijing Olympics star Phelps 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 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.? /AP