Phelps Confronts A Rising U.S. Tide

Michael Phelps seems to sense it: At the moment, he is not considered the most unbeatable swimmer on the U.S. team. He remains the most prolific, winning five national titles two weeks ago, but pool mates Brendan Hansen and Aaron Piersol have surpassed him in pure dominance.

Phelps, who won eight medals at the 2004 Olympics, hopes to reestablish himself with across-the-board personal bests in five events at the Pan Pacific Championships, which begin today in Victoria, B.C. He also hopes to solidify his planned program for the 2008 Beijing Games.

"I think things are headed in the right direction," Phelps said last week during a conference call with reporters. But "that's the one thing I haven't done, a best time . . . since Athens. That's something hopefully I can fix."

Hansen and Piersol have a more straightforward but still challenging task: keeping themselves on top of the world for the next two years. Piersol is the world record holder in the 100 and 200 backstroke and hasn't lost a race in the latter since 2000. Hansen, who holds the world records in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, lowered both marks during the recent national championships in Irvine, Calif.

"When you're breaking world records and on top like that, there's a big target on your chest," Hansen said. "I'm expecting that."

Among the women, youngsters Katie Hoff , 17, of North Baltimore; Kate Ziegler , 18, of Great Falls; and Jessica Hardy , 19; will attempt to bolster their burgeoning international reputations. Hoff has already qualified for the 2008 Olympic trials in all 13 individual events. Ziegler is the reigning world champion in the 800 and 1,500 and Hardy set a world record in the 100 breaststroke at last year's world championships in Montreal.

-- Amy Shipley