Michael Phelps finished only second in the 200-meter medley final at the short-course World Cup on Wednesday. Phelps was also said to be struggling in the old-style swimsuit that will be the standard next year.

This is Phelps’ first time to compete since the world championships in August. Phelps’ coach, Bob Bowman said he wants Phelps to use the old-style suit in the lead-up to the US championships next year.

Phelps clocked 1 minute and 53.93 seconds, just two seconds behind South African Darian Townsend, who clocked 1:51.79.

Despite placing second, Phelps said he was doing OK and the reason was that he has not practiced regularly.

Phelps has also failed to quality for the 100 butterfly final after he finished 11th in qualifying heats in 51.06 seconds. During that game, Kaio Almeida of Brazil won first.

In 2008, Phelps won a record of eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.

(via Huffington Post)