Michael Phelps...goes down in flames! Too much dope?

“He gave it everything he had, he gave 100%,” Ryan Lochte stated matter-of-fact to an attentive reporter on the heels of powerfully stroking his way to “gold” in the 400 meter Individual Medley yesterday at the Olympics in London.

Ouch!

With "friends like that", who needs enemies!

According to Phelps?

“Just a crappy race,” he shrugged, though visibly rattled by his dismal performance.

What an understatement!

In the past eight years, Phelps hasn’t failed to place once.

It’s an astounding stumble that sports enthusiasts (and fans) won’t soon forget, either.

Perhaps folks saw it coming; after all, Phelps’ initial start-up this past week in London didn’t bode well for one of the “winningest” Olympic swimmers in the history of the games.

Uh-huh!

In his first trial run, the “Golden Boy” came within a hair’s breath of not qualifying for a race.

Imagine that!

But, it was a sloppy performance in the pool yesterday that said it all.

Phelps is either over-the-hill – or – definitely out-of-shape (and thus, ill-prepared for the Olympic competitions, you betcha).

“It’s ultimately a fitness issue,” quipped trainer Bob Bowman poolside.

Not surprising, when you consider that Phelps began rigorous (?) training just a scant six months ago.

In contrast, go-getter Ryan Lochte busted his butt working out daily for the past four years (the day after he stepped off the podium clutching his medals in Beijing).

“It’s my year. There is no better way to start the Olympics,” Lochte gushed after nabbing the coveted prize out from under Phelps by an amazing four seconds!

Phelps, on the other hand, was so shaken that his “sportsmanship” temporarily lapsed.

Fans in the stands witnessed Phelps stride right by Ryan Lochte without even congratulating the Olympic upstart for snatching up the "gold".

To his credit, he did so later in the warm-up room, though.

In the end, Phelps fessed up.

“They swam a better race than me, a smarter race than me. They were more prepared, that’s why they’re on the medal stand,” he tweeted to followers in the aftermath.

Eating crow is good for the soul.

Though the sexy swimmer went down in flames on Saturday, ‘ya never know, he may rise up from the ashes like a Phoenix in races slated against his rival Lochte later this week.

The world will be watching!

Go! Michael! Go!