MINNEAPOLIS — Michael Phelps, who won eight Olympic gold medals at the Beijing Games in 2008, and Missy Franklin, who attends Regis Jesuit High School, ruled in the pool this past weekend at the Minneapolis Grand Prix.
Phelps won his fifth gold medal Sunday and topped the male points table on the final day of the event, while Franklin was the leading female scorer after winning five medals.
Franklin won the 200-meter backstroke Sunday in 2:08.03 and later won the 100 freestyle in 54.27. She also finished third in the 200 individual medley in 2:13.12.
Earlier in the meet, Franklin won the 100 backstroke and was second in the 200 freestyle. The 16-year-old Franklin won the overall Grand Prix series title last year and is vying for her first Olympic berth.
“We’re in really tough training right now. Everyone is,” Franklin said. “To be able to come out here and go some of my best in-season times is really good. I’m thrilled.”
The women’s 100 freestyle came down to a race between the two leading point-scorers in the meet. Franklin edged second-place Allison Schmitt, who finished second in 54.69. Schmitt won the 200 and 400 freestyle events and was second in the 200 butterfly and third in the 800 freestyle.
