Michael Phelps Might Be Part Fish

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↵We offered a glancing mention of the speedy 400-meter individual medley heat Michael Phelps put together earlier, but saved discussion until anti-spoiler swim fans could see the race on NBC. Having just watched it: whoa.
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↵Phelps led from the horn, pulling away in the opening butterfly leg. He took such a long lead during the backstroke leg the broadcast crew openly hoped he’d slow down to conserve energy for the medal race ... and the other 2,457 events (slight exaggeration) Phelps will compete in this month. Early into the breaststroke leg, Phelps noticeably slowed, heeding the “save some juice” strategy.
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↵He still broke the Olympic record, and destroyed the competition.
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↵Compared to the broadcast team, I clearly know nothing about competitive swimming. But is it possible Phelps can’t go slower? His freestyle leg in the heat looked positively effortless, like a weekend warrior taking a few laps at the Y. Imagine what he’ll do tonight in the medal race (10 PM EST on NBC) if he’s challenged, when he actually has to push himself.↵