CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Michael Phelps is not unbeatable.
Not when he’s going against Aaron Peirsol.
The world-record holder and two-time Olympic champion handed Phelps his first defeat in almost a year, winning the 100-meter backstroke at the Charlotte UltraSwim on Saturday night.
Wearing his new Arena suit, Peirsol got off to a strong start and touched in 53.32 seconds. Phelps was trailing by more than a half-second at the turn and had no chance to make that up against one of the world’s greatest backstrokers, taking second in 53.79.
Phelps will remember this one.
“No matter who I’m racing, I hate to lose,” he said. “Aaron and I have had a number of battles back and forth. . . . That’s the fun part about racing Aaron — you know he’s always going be there.
“He’s a racer, he’s a competitor. He’s someone I like to race.”
Phelps’ last defeat in a final? Exactly 364 days ago, when Peirsol beat him in the 200 backstroke at Santa Clara, Calif., during the run-up to the Olympics, according to USA Swimming.
Phelps is swimming five events in Charlotte — his first meet since Beijing — but only two were on his Olympic program. He won them both Friday, the 200 free and 100 fly.
Phelps scratched from the 50 final, which was won by world-record holder Frederick Bousquet of France.
