Michael Phelps continues pre-Olympic work

WINNING STROKE. World record holder Michael Phelps swims to victory in the 100-meter butterfly, clocking 52.41 seconds, during the finals of the Santa Clara International Grand Prix in Santa Clara, California Friday, June 17, 2011. Inset photo shows Phelps after winning the event . AP

COLUMBUS—American swimming legend and 14-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps continues his preparations for the London Olympics at the Columbus Grand Prix meet that opens on Friday.

Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, leads the US Grand Prix meet series, which continues later this month in Indianapolis, in May at Charlotte and concludes in June at Santa Clara.

Phelps, who also captured six golds and two bronze medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics, leads the chase for a $20,000 bonus to the top scoring swimmer from the US series.

Fellow Olympic champion Natalie Coughlin is among nine other US Olympians set to swim in the meet, the fourth in the series designated to help prepare Americans for the US Olympic trials on June 25-July 2 at Omaha, Nebraska.