Michael Phelps fourth in 200m free won by France’s Jeremy Stravius

French Olympian Jeremy Stravius won the men's 200m freestyle at the Pro Swim meeting in Austin, Texas, today as Olympic superstar Michael Phelps settled for fourth.

Los Angeles, Jan 17: French Olympian Jeremy Stravius won the men’s 200m freestyle at the Pro Swim meeting in Austin, Texas, today as Olympic superstar Michael Phelps settled for fourth.Stravius clocked 1min 47.56sec, leading all the way to finish ahead of American Townley Haas (1:48.35) and fellow Frenchman Jordan Pothain (1:48.62).Phelps, whose 22 Olympic medals include a staggering 18 gold, was third at the halfway mark, but couldn’t mount a late challenge and finished off the podium in an event that featured among his eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games.

While the 200 free is no longer a major focus for Phelps, he has been on the US 4x200m free relay team at the last three Olympics.The 30-year-old, who is out of retirement and aiming to add to his medal tally at the Rio Games, finished in 1:48.87, his fastest-ever in the month of January.Among other finals on Saturday, the second day of the three-day meeting, freestyle phenomenon Katie Ledecky clocked a personal best of 1:54.43 to win the 200m freestyle — improving on the 1:55.16 she swam to win the world title at Kazan, Russia last year.

Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, who had the fastest time in the world last year in the event but didn’t race it at worlds, settled for silver in 1:56.14, with former world champion Missy Franklin third in 1:57.49.US veteran Ryan Lochte romped to victory in the men’s 400m individual medley with a time of 4:12.66.Chase Kalisz was second in 4:14.64 and Josh Prenot third in 4:15.07 in a US sweep.The women’s 400m medley title went to Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, who cruised to victory in 4:36.27 after being shut out of the medals in the 100m free and 400m free on Friday.

Hosszu also captured silver in the 200m backstroke, won by American Maya DiRado in 2:08.19.Hosszu clocked 2:08.63 and world record-holder Franklin was third in 2:09.21.The 50 freestyles followed the formbook.Sjostrom won the women’s race in 24.17sec, adding the title to the 100m free gold she won on Friday with Madison Kennedy second in 24.72.Men’s 100m free winner Nathan Adrian won the men’s 50 in 21.85, with Brazilian Bruno Fratus second in 22.07 and Jimmy Feigen third in 22.27.

Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte win first swimming events of 2016

The rivalry between swimmers Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte is among the world's best individual competitions heading into an Olympic year. With each swimmer trying to one-up the other, the 2016 season got off to a fast start at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Austin, Texas.

Phelps and Lochte squared off Friday in the 100-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly, one of Phelps' signature events. It was Lochte who had the top seed in the butterfly heading into finals (52.58).

Michael Phelps (Getty Images)

Phelps, a 22-time Olympic medalist, saved his best for last. He, dominated the field in a time of 51.94, nearly two-tenths of a second faster than he was to begin his 2012 Olympic season.

Here's the race between Phelps and Lochte in the 100-meter butterfly.

"I thought I finished well in the 100 fly," Phelps told reporters after Friday's session. "My freestyle stroke isn't fully there, which is frustrating. Being a body-length behind at the 50, it's not really a place where you want to be. I didn't die. I finished well. I thought the last 10 meters of the 100 free were great.

"The biggest thing for tonight is I'm happy to be able to do that double and go 51.9."

With Phelps having one win under his belt, Lochte entered Saturday's events looking for his first major win of 2016 in the 400-meter individual medley, a grueling race he won at the London Olympics but has competed in just seven times since.

Lochte, known for his versatility and rigorous training, led wire-to-wire, shaving six seconds off his prelims time for a swim of 4:12.66, his fastest since May 2013. An 11-time Olympic medalist, Lochte has said the event wouldn't be a part of his Rio repertoire, but Saturday's impressive time left Lochte open for a return to the event.

"It doesn't get any easier, especially as you get older," Lochte told media members. "But going that time — where I am at now in my training, I am actually looking forward to maybe doing it again."

Lochte and Phelps were to meet again on Sunday in the 200-meter individual medley. Lochte owns the world record in the event, but Phelps won at the London Olympics.