Fired up Phelps back in record-smashing form

By Steve Keating

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - A fired up Michael Phelps signalled he was back in top form when he rocketed to a world record in the 100 metres butterfly at the U.S. Nationals on Thursday.

The 24-year-old American erased any concerns he lacked motivation after he won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, ending compatriot Ian Crocker's six-year grip on the 100 butterfly record.

Phelps' power was on display when he went out fast and pulled away after the turn clocking 50.22 seconds, leaving Tyler McGill a distance second in 51.06.

Phelps now holds five individual world records -- 200 and 400 individual medleys, 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 freestyle.

He had previously held the 100 butterfly record when he broke the mark in the semi-finals of the 2003 Barcelona world championships.

Crocker, however, broke that record with victory in the final the next day and has lowered it twice since -- the last time at the world championships in 2005 when he swam 50.40.

"It was big, it was something I really, really wanted," Phelps told reporters. "I've wanted that record ever since he took it at the '03 worlds.

"He just smashed me in the 100 at the '05 worlds, I remember saying then, 'I never want to get beaten that bad again'.