Michael Phelps pulls out of 100 freestyle at US trials

ByReuters

Updated 29/06/2016 at 20:15 GMT

Michael Phelps continued to trim his program at the US Olympic swim trials, scratching from the preliminaries of the 100 metres freestyle on Wednesday.

: Michael Phelps competes in a semi-final heat of the Men's 200 Meter Butterfly during Day 3 of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CenturyLink Center on June 28, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Image credit: AFP

The most decorated Olympian of all-time with 22 medals, Phelps will now attempt to qualify in just three events for the Rio Summer Games, the 100 and 200 metres butterfly and 200 individual medley.

Phelps, who turns 31 on Thursday, will try to give himself an early birthday present by clinching a place in his fifth Olympic team on Wednesday evening when he swims in the 200 butterfly final.

The 18-times Olympic gold medallist also pulled out of the 200 metres freestyle on Monday.

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