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Michael Phelps staked his claim to another Beijing Olympics berth during the U.S. swimming trials with a sizzling performance in the 100 metres freestyle preliminaries.

Phelps became the sixth swimmer to clock under 48 seconds with a time of 47.92 to win his heat then withdrew from the event believing he had done enough to secure a spot on the 4x100 relay team.

"One and done," Phelps's coach Bob Bowman said.

"He was trying to break 48 and he did and that sets him up nicely for the relay and hopefully answered some questions for everybody.

"I think Michael should be on the relay, he's put up a time, so there it is."

Bowman also said that the 23-year-old might withdraw from the 200 backstroke as the eight-day trials reach the midway mark.

Phelps, who has targeted Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at a single summer Games in Beijing, has qualified in the 400 metres medley and 200 metres freestyle.

His victory in the 200 freestyle also clinched him a place on the 4x200 relay squad.

"The 200 metre back is tentative," said Bowman "Things are going kind of well so we'll see. Our programme is looking pretty good. It's shaping up nicely now.

The morning session opened with an all-out assault on Frenchman Alain Bernard's world record of 47.50 in swimming's classic event.

Garrett Weber-Gale came close with an American record of 47.78 in his heat, the fifth fastest time ever.

After qualifying for a spot in the 100 breaststroke, Brendan Hansen began his bid for a place in the 200 and the chance of reclaiming his world record from Japan's Kosuke Kitajima.

Hansen, who has three of the top five times ever in the event, led the charge into the semi-finals with 2:11.29, well off Kitajima's world mark of 2:07.51 set this year.

"I'm not worried about that yet," said Hansen, when asked about retaking his 200 record. "I was just trying to feel my stroke and get my body adjusted to the 200 versus the 100."

Elaine Breeden posted the top time in the women's 200 butterfly, touching in 2:07.72.

Phelps will again figure prominently in the evening finals as he tries to qualify for his third individual event in the 200 butterfly while the trials' two dominant women swimmers, Katie Hoff and Natalie Coughlin, clash in the 200 individual medley.

Hoff will also competes in the 200 freestyle final looking to clinch her third and fourth Olympic berths.

Eurosport