Michael Phelps Takes First Gold of 2011 World Championships

Swimming’s golden boy Michael Phelps won his first gold medal — in the 200-meter butterfly — at the 2011 World Swimming Championships in Shanghai, China, reports The New York Times.

It was Phelps’ first win since emerging from three losing streaks earlier this year. He touched the wall in a minute and 53.34 seconds, beating Japanese hopeful Takeshi Matsuda and China’s Wu Peng, who have topped Phelps twice in the past.

“I didn’t want to lose that race again,” Phelps said, adding that having a number of defeats was “extremely frustrating.”

His first loss in Ann Arbor, Mich., to Wu came as a big shock for fans and supporters.

Phelps’s second defeat came in Charlotte in May when he ran out of energy in the last 50 meters and lost the gold to Wu again.

Several weeks later, Phelps was beaten again, this time to Australian Nick D’Arcy in Santa Clara, Calif.

The 26-year-old has already claimed two medals in Shanghai, earning the bronze in the 4x100-meters freestyle relay team and silver in the 200-meters freestyle, where he lost to fellow teammate Ryan Lochte.

Phelps will be competing in the 200-meters individual medley final on Thursday.