updated 1:51 p.m. ET Aug. 16, 2004

ATHENS, Greece - Michael Phelps, still smarting after America’s upset loss to South Africa in the 400 freestyle relay Sunday and his bronze-medal performance in the 200 freestyle earlier in the session, jumped back in the pool and qualified for the 200-meter butterfly.

Stephen Parry of Great Britain won the first semifinal with a top time of 1:55.57. Phelps was second in 1:55.65.

Pawel Korzeniowski of Poland won the second semifinal with the third-quickest time of 1:56.40.

The United States' Tom Malchow also qualified for Tuesday's final.

Phelps’ quest to break Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games was dashed with the Americans’ bronze medal in the relay Sunday night. The South Africans won gold in a world-record time and the Netherlands took silver.

His attempt to even tie the mark was erased Monday when he finished third in the 200 freestyle behind gold medal winner Ian Thorpe.

Phelps is the world-record holder in the event. Four years ago, he finished fifth in the 200 fly — his only event at the Sydney Games.

Bob Bowman, Phelps’ coach, advised him to forget about the relay defeat, even though the other Americans were still hashing it over.

“I told him, ‘It’s over, there’s nothing you can do about that, but there’s a lot you can do about today,”’ Bowman said. “I thought he swam very well.”

Malchow, the defending Olympic champion, was fourth-fastest in 1:57.75 despite swimming with an injured right shoulder. He was nine-hundredths of a second behind Korzeniowski of Poland, who was third in 1:57.45.

Malchow, of St. Paul, Minn., made his third Olympic team even though he was hurt during last month’s U.S. trials. He had two cortisone shots recently to combat swelling and fluid buildup from the torn shoulder tendon.

“It’s real different for me here. I’m not the favorite,” said Malchow, who won silver at the 1996 Atlanta Games. “A lot of people say I should have walked away. My shoulder is all banged up, but I’m glad I didn’t walk away.”

Phelps had a busy Monday night ahead of him. He was to swim the much-hyped 200 free final — a showdown with Australian Ian Thorpe and defending Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband — followed by the 200 fly semifinal.

“He just wanted to be in that race. I have no idea if he can win or not, but I think he’ll put up a really good time,” Bowman said.

Bowman said Phelps is not obsessed with equaling Spitz’s record.

“It’s not the center of his being,” the coach said. “It’s a good publicity thing if he can keep winning, but I don’t think he’s sitting over there saying, ‘I’ve got to win the 200 free.”’

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