(CNN) -- Swimming star Michael Phelps has failed to reach the final of the 400-meter individual medley at the Pan Pacific Championships on Thursday, missing out at a major event for the first time since 2005.
The 14-time Olympic champion could manage only the fourth-fastest time of the of the heats, meaning he missed out as teammates Ryan Lochte and Tyler Clary took the two U.S. berths for the later title race in Irvine, California.
The event features athletes from the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and 17 other nations outside Europe, with only two from each country allowed to take part in finals.
Phelps is the world record-holder and two-time Olympic gold medal winner in the event, which he vowed not to race again following the Beijing Games.
He missed a major final for the first time since the 400m freestyle at the 2005 world championships after Lochte clocked four minutes 08.77 seconds for the fastest time in the world this year and Clary registered 4:09.20 for the second quickest.
Phelps was a convincing winner in his first final of the event on Wednesday, but warned that he might struggle to qualify in the medley. CNN
