Michael Phelps says he will use his poor performances at the shortcourse World Cup to come back stronger. Photo / AP

Michael Phelps says he will use his poor performances at the shortcourse World Cup to come back stronger. Photo / AP

BERLIN - Beijing Olympic star Michael Phelps insisted he would use his poor form at Berlin's world record-laden shortcourse World Cup meet as future motivation with an eye on the London 2012 Games.

Phelps won a historic eight gold medals in Beijing last year, but could manage only a second in the 200m individual medley and a fifth in the 200m butterfly this weekend. He failed to reach the final of the 200m freestyle.

While his rivals continue to wear the high-tech swimsuits, the 24-year-old American has worn traditional trunks here and says he will use the poor performances - by his lofty standards - to come back stronger.

"I prefer not to lose, but I knew coming in that it would be very, very hard to win anything," Phelps.

"I raced as hard as I could, I've gotten some racing under my belt and that's what we set out to do. Maybe it's better for me that I lost today, it gives me better motivation for the future."

Phelps' showdown with Germany's Paul Biedermann failed to materialise after the American was only the 12th fastest from the 200m freestyle heats while Biedermann swam a world record 1m 39.37s in the final.

In all, 16 world records were set at the weekend, said international swimming federation Fina, with the vast majority set by athletes wearing the high-tech swimsuits which will be banned from January 1.

- AFP