Phelps falls to Lochte in comeback meet
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mesa, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Michael Phelps finished second to fellow American Ryan Lochte in the 100-meter butterfly final at the Arena Grand Prix on Thursday night.
Lochte took home first place in the final with a time of 51.93 seconds. Phelps finished the race in 52.13 seconds in his first meet since retiring after the 2012 London Olympics.
The world record holder in the distance, Phelps started the day with a win in his preliminary heat. He finished with a time of 52.84 seconds, just .10 seconds faster than Lochte.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Phelps, 28, is also scheduled to compete in the 50-meter freestyle in Mesa, though he has pulled out of the 100 free.
He retired after winning six medals in London, saying he wanted to see more of the world than its hotels and swimming pools.
But the layoff lasted just 20 months before USA Swimming said last week Phelps would be in the Mesa field.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Three of Phelps' record 18 Olympic gold medals came in the 100 fly. He has a record 22 Olympic medals overall.