Phelps believes in new swim star Ye

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Eighteen-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps has jumped to the defence of 16-year-old Ye Shiwen and insisted her mind-boggling performance was the result of hard work.

Phelps finished his career on Sunday at the age of 27 following a career that brought him 22 Olympic medals, 18 of which were gold, as well as 26 world titles.
The swimming programme in London threw up a number of surprises, not least Phelps finishing fourth in the 400 metres individual medley, but it was the performance of Ye in the women's equivalent that prompted a furore.
The Chinese teenager swam the final 50m quicker than the winner of the men's race Ryan Lochte, one of the greatest medley exponents in history.
Some questioned her performance but Phelps defended the young swimmer, instead hailing her work ethic.
He told the 'Connect the World' programme on CNN: "It's kind of sad that people have a great swim and that's the first thing they say.
"People who work hard - it shows, and there are people who jump to that conclusion sometimes and it's not right. Being able to watch her was pretty amazing.
"I'm happy I actually out-swum her in the last 100."
The Baltimore swimmer is adamant he will not return to the pool having achieved all he wanted despite some believing he will one day come back.
A number of young swimmers made breakthroughs on the world stage in London, among them Yannick Agnel, the 20-year-old who won the 200m freestyle and anchored the French to victory over the United States in the sprint relay, overhauling Lochte in the final metres.
Chad le Clos had clinched Commonwealth titles but London saw his global breakthrough as the South African shocked Phelps by taking advantage of his poor finish to snatch gold, the American's first defeat in that event in global competition in 12 years.
It was the event that saw Phelps equal Larisa Latynina's Olympic record although not quite in the way he had hoped.
However, the Bob Bowman-coached swimmer paid tribute to his opponent, saying: "Well, sure, I would have liked to win that race but...
"The hardest worker always wins, the hardest worker, the person who wants it the most wins, and he wanted it more than I did."

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Swimming: Tancock strikes gold

Defending champion Liam Tancock has won the gold medal in the 50 metres backstroke at the World Championships in Shanghai.

The 26-year-old was quickest into the final and on Sunday night he touched in 24.50 seconds for victory.
It means the Loughborough ITC swimmer retains the title he won in Rome two years ago and gives Great Britain their second gold medal in the pool following Rebecca Adlington in the 800m freestyle.
Tancock has now won a total of five world medals since he claimed bronze on his senior international debut at the 2005 championships in Montreal.
Tancock then rushed off to prepare for the 4x100m medley relay, where he was swimming the opening backstroke leg.
His title followed Fran Halsall's fourth place in the 50m freestyle.
The 21-year-old had been favourite for the 100m freestyle title before failing to claim a medal.
However, the 'splash and dash' is not her speciality event and the Loughborough ITC swimmer was satisfied with her effort of 24.60secs, 0.11 outside third place in a race won by Therese Alshammar.
Roberto Pavoni was eighth in the 400m individual medley, which saw Ryan Lochte claim yet another medal.
Even reaching the final represented an achievement for the 2009 European champion and augurs well for the 20-year-old, who only made his senior international debut at the European Championships last year, where he finished 12th.
Pavoni finished in 4:19.85, more than three and a half seconds outside his heat swim on Sunday morning.
The longest-standing world record was broken on Sunday night when Sun Yang brought down Grant Hackett's 1,500m freestyle mark.
The Chinese swimmer is trained by Hackett's former coach Dennis Cotterell in Australia and he led from start to finish to touch in 14:34.14, 0.42secs inside the old record set 10 years ago.

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Swimming: Lochte supreme in Shanghai

Ryan Lochte claimed his fifth gold medal of the meet as the World Championships came to an end in Shanghai.

The 26-year-old has been the dominant name at the Oriental Sports Centre, twice beating Michael Phelps into second place.
On Sunday night, his victory in the 400 metres individual medley epitomised his domination as he touched more than four seconds ahead of his nearest rival, USA team-mate Tyler Clary, in four minutes 07.13 seconds with Japan's Yuya Horihata in third.
Lochte, who was named top male swimmer of the meet, said: "I'm glad this meet is over.
"It's been a long, long eight days. That 400m IM being on the last day was definitely really hard. I had to do everything I could just to get my hand on the wall first.
"For the most part, I'm not really happy (with my performance). Getting five gold medals is definitely great, but the times that I went, I know I could go a lot faster.
"There are a lot of places in my races that I messed up on that I could have changed and gone faster, but I guess I have a whole year to make sure I have those perfect swims."
Lochte was part of a United States team that dominated at the Oriental Sports Centre, winning 16 of the 40 available titles and 31 medals in total.
China's Sun Yang brought to an end Grant Hackett's 10-year reign as 1,500m freestyle world record holder.
The 19-year-old dominated from the off in a race against the clock to finish in 14mins 34.14secs, 0.42secs inside Hackett's record.
Sun enjoyed a superb meet, also taking gold in the 800m freestyle, silver in the 400m and bronze as part of China's 4x200m freestyle relay.
He said: "I'm very happy to have won the gold and broken the world record.
"I didn't think I could break the record; I just wanted to keep my pace.
"This is a result of all the hard training and preparation I went through in Australia with Denis Cotterell [Hackett's coach]."
The United States men's 4x100m medley relay squad edged out Australia by 0.20secs in 3:32.06 while Great Britain's Liam Tancock retained his 50m backstroke crown (24.50secs).
There was more success for the USA as Jessica Hardy (30.19secs) and Rebecca Soni picked up gold and bronze in the 50m breaststroke, sandwiching Russia's Yuliya Efimova while Therese Alshammar won the 50m freestyle in 24.14secs.
In the final individual event of the competition, Elizabeth Beisel brought the USA another title with a blistering 4:31.78 in the 400m individual medley.

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Sejwal qualifies for London Olympics

Sandeep Sejwal became the first Indian swimmer to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics on Sunday.

Participating in the 100m breaststroke category in the FINA World Championships in Shanghai, the Delhi youngster registered 1:02.62 seconds. The Olympic invitation time for the event was set at 1:02.92 seconds.

Having missed out on the medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, it was a big achievement for Sejwal.
"He has made up for the disappointments in the CWG and Asian Games. It is a major achievement," TNN reported Sandeep's coach, Nihar Ameen, as saying.

The next target for the youngster is to qualify in the 50m and 200m breaststroke events. "He has got one more year to achieve the qualification marks. I am sure he will do it," Nihar added.

Sejwal had participated in the 200m and 100m breaststroke events in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Meanwhile, Virdhawal Khade finished the 50m butterfly in 24.65 seconds, but missed the semifinal by 0.69 seconds in Shanghai on Sunday.

The Asian Games medallist will now be focusing on the 50m and 100m freestyle events to make the Olympic marks.

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Swimming: Popov predicts more records

Four-time Olympic champion Alexander Popov believes the World Championships in Shanghai will witness yet more records.

Popov, who won the 50 metres and 100m freestyle in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, predicted new world marks may be seen in the distance events.
The Russian pointed to Chinese swimmer Sun Yang as one of those most likely to set a new benchmark. Sun set the second fastest time in history in the 1,500m freestyle at last year's Asian Games, less than a second off Grant Hackett's long-standing world record.
He also tops the world rankings in all the freestyle events from 200m upwards.
Asked whether records could tumbled, Popov said: "I hope so. Some guys are near in the long distance, the sprints are a bit tough.
"But I am not Nostradamus, so we will see."
Popov also named American pair Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte as two he is looking forward to seeing but insists the former does not need to repeat his feats of 2008 as he is already a living legend.
"He can swim backwards, upwards and downwards," the 39-year-old said.
"Michael Phelps is Michael Phelps, he is up there and we are down here."
Popov was speaking after the Russian city of Kazan was awarded the 2015 World Championships, with Popov a member of the successful delegation. Guadalajara were given the 2017 competition.
The event in China, which begins on Saturday when the diving programme gets under way, starts with the participation of defending 50m and 100m freestyle champion Cesar Cielo as yet unresolved.
Cielo was one of four Brazilian swimmers who tested positive for the diuretic Furosemide in May but they were given just a warning by their national federation rather than a ban.
Governing body FINA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport with the hearing set for July 20 and a decision due "no later than July 22", with racing starting on July 24.
Popov would not be drawn on Cielo's specific case but he did not shirk from the issue of doping in sport insisting it ultimately came down to morals and principles.
Popov told Press Association Sport: "Until the final decision by the Court of Arbitration is made I think we should refrain from commenting because it is a very delicate issue.
"The IOC is trying to do its best through WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and the national Olympic committees but we have to wait."
Of the issue of whether drugs are a problem in swimming, Popov added: "In sport in general but there are other issues as well.
"So by eliminating one it doesn't really mean you eliminate all of them.
"I guess there is an issue but it is also an issue of ethics, of the athletes themselves, coaches, whoever is in charge.
"It's an ethical issue."
Popov worked under coach Gennadi Touretski, the man who is now guiding five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe following his return to the sport.
He revealed his son Vladimir, 13, is also training under Touretski and said: "It is very interesting.
"I have spoken to Gennadi and he has told me good things about Ian and training."

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Swimming: CAS to rule next week

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed the hearing into the punishments handed to four Brazilian swimmers for failing drugs tests.

A fast-track hearing was desired by all parties so that a decision could be taken before the start of the World Championships on July 24.
CAS confirmed the hearing would be held next Wednesday - July 20 - in Shanghai, with a final decision anticipated "no later than July 22".
It will take place before the World Championships later this month.
An official CAS press release read: "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirms that these matters will be settled by way of an expedited procedure.
"A CAS panel will hear all parties concerned at a hearing which will take place in Shanghai on 20 July 2011, with some parties and witnesses participating via video conference."
World and Olympic 50metres freestyle champion Cesar Cielo, as well as Nicholas Santos, Henrique Barbosa and Vinicius Waked, have all tested positive for the diuretic furosemide, which is on the banned list of substances.
Swimming's world governing body, FINA, subsequently appealed against the Brazilian Aquatic Sports Confederation's decision to only issue warnings to the athletes.

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Swimming: Britions gold in Berlin

The women's 34 point 4x100m medley relay team picked up Great Britain's 27th gold medal on the final day of competition at the IPC Swimming European Championships in Berlin.

The foursome of Heather Frederiksen, Claire Cashmore, Stephanie Millward and Louise Watkin set a new world record in taking the gold, their time of four minutes 52.40 beating the previous record set by Britain two years ago.
Susie Rogers picked up her fifth and sixth gold medals of the Championships, winning the S7 100m freestyle and then helping the 34pt 4x100m freestyle relay quartet to gold as well.
Oliver Hynd completed his major championship debut with victory in the SM8 200m individual medley, breaking the European record which was set by his older brother Sam - who picked up bronze in the same race.
Jonathan Fox collected his third gold of the championships, adding victory in the S7 100m freestyle to earlier successes in the S7 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke.
Rhiannon Henry also finished off her competition with a gold medal, leading home the field in the women's S13 100m freestyle.
Emma Hollis, who won four medals at the 2009 European Championships, went one better this year as she won her fifth medal - a silver in the SM8 200m individual medley.
Double Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds, who has claimed two world records this week, had to settle for silver in the women's S6 100m freestyle with Natalie Jones following her home to take the bronze.
Anthony Stephens secured a silver in the men's S5 200m freestyle - his fourth medal of the competition - and James Anderson completed a hat-trick of bronze medals with his third-placed finish in the S2 50m backstroke final.
The men's 34 point 4x100m medley relay team of James Crisp, Sam Hynd, James Hollis and Fox won bronze.

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Thor Hushovd takes over Tour summit

Thor Hushovd swapped the world champion's rainbow jersey for the Tour de France race leader's maillot jaune after his Garmin-Cervelo squad won the team time-trial.

The nine-man Garmin-Cervelo team clocked 24 minutes 48 seconds over the 23-kilometre course, with Team Sky, BMC Racing and Leopard Trek all four seconds behind.
Hushovd's team-mate David Millar is now second overall on the same time, while two-time runners-up Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) are one and four seconds behind, respectively.
Defending champion Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard), meanwhile, lost more time after a difficult first day and is now 1min 42secs behind ahead of Monday's 198km third stage from Olonne-sur-Mer to Redon, which is anticipated to end in a bunch sprint.
Hushovd revelled in the success - the American squad's first Tour victory - and stated his intention to hold onto the yellow jersey and help team-mate Tyler Farrar in the points classification race for the green jersey.
The Norwegian, who succeeded stage one winner Philippe Gilbert as the race leader, said: "The team's goal was to win this team time-trial and also get me in yellow and we've made it so from the team's perspective this Tour de France is already a success.
"I'd like to keep this jersey on my shoulders for as long as possible.
"I know it will be hard in stage four when we go up the Mur-de-Bretagne but I'll do my best and then help Tyler Farrar in the sprints and try to go for a stage win myself later on.
"Like I've said for a long time, the green is not a goal for me this year.
"If I get a stage win then I'll be really happy with my Tour de France."
Millar savoured Garmin-Cervelo's first Tour stage win, believing the success was extra special as it was shared.
The Scot said: "It's the stuff you dream of, so to achieve it is a wonderful feeling.
"It's a team experience. To sit there all of us and experience the same tensions as each other was a unique feeling.
"The energy was crazy and the emotions are so much stronger than winning an individual time-trial.
"I've won a fair few of those but this on a whole different level.
"It's so much better to share the emotions run so high."
Millar, riding in his 10th Tour, wore the yellow jersey early in his career and has three individual stage wins to his credit, but none since his confession for doping and subsequent ban.
The 34-year-old, who returned to the sport in 2006, is now a fervent anti-doping campaigner and has personal ambitions this month.
He added: "I'd like to win a stage. I'll enjoy today [Sunday] and see what happens tomorrow [Monday]."
Schleck finished 39 seconds behind Contador in the 2010 Tour and now holds an advantage of 1:38 on the Spaniard after two days of racing.
The Luxembourg rider said: "I'm satisfied with how the race went today [Sunday].
"We proved we are a solid team and that we have good chemistry.
"This is important when we are fighting to win the Tour."
Contador, too, was content, despite losing more time, with Saxo Bank-SunGard eighth, 28 seconds behind.
The 28-year-old, who is the subject of a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing next month into his positive drugs test at last year's Tour, said: "The team gave everything we had and finished in a good time.
"My opponents are still ahead of me in the GC (general classification) and I might not even be the biggest favourite to win overall anymore.
"But there's a long way to Paris and we will do anything to gain time to get back."

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Cielo escapes with warning

Olympic and world champion Cesar Cielo was one of six swimmers to be let off with a warning despite testing positive for a diuretic.

Cielo, world 50metres and 100m freestyle champion as well as Olympic gold medallist in the former, tested positive for the banned substance furosemide at the Maria Lenk Trophy competition in Santos in May.
As well as Cielho, Nicholas Santos, Henrique Barbosa and Vinicius Waked - the quartet all on the Brazil team for this month's World Swimming Championships in Shanghai - also tested positive for the diuretic which is on the banned list given its properties as a masking agent.
However, rather than a ban, the four have merely been given warnings after the doping control panel "considered the history of the athletes" and also their explanations believing the quartet had not intended to cheat with Cielho claiming his normal supplements had been cross-contaminated.
In a statement, the 24-year-old said: "All data was laid out before the panel and it was proven that the presence of the substance was caused by cross-contamination during the handling of a supplement (exceptionally, that can happen even where sanitary vigilance standards are observed).
"I have always use this supplement and previous controls have never previously presented a problem. Given the trust I have in this supplement, I think this has been an isolated case.
"Because of the trust placed in the product, other athletes also used the supplement.
"I submit to constant testing - this year, I have already been tested five times. I also submitted to a blood test in France at the Paris Open. I submit to random testing and am part of FINA's whereabouts programme that requires me to inform the authorities every time I move [from place to place]. Those are the rules of the game and I have always known that.
"At no time was I reckless or negligent nor did I lean on ignorance.
"I do not use any type of medicine or supplement without checking that it is safe to use.
"Wherever I am in the world, I consult my doctor and my father, who is also a doctor, about the composition of any medicine or supplement before ingesting them. I am extremely careful with that and I my conscience is clear in terms of my knowing that I did nothing to deliberately enhance my performance."
While the documentation has been sent to governing body FINA, it may not mean the end of the matter for Cielo with the pool events due to start in Shanghai on July 24.

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