LONG BEACH, Calif. – Not so fast on those seven gold medals for Michael Phelps.

Aaron Peirsol sent a clear message to the world’s greatest swimmer Monday, setting a world record in the 200-meter backstroke and handing Phelps his first loss of the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.

Amanda Beard also set a world record – bringing the total to five in the first six days of the trials – but 10-time medalist Jenny Thompson failed to claim a spot in the 100 freestyle.

Peirsol and Phelps were both under record pace for the first three laps, but Peirsol led all the way and pulled away on the final leg for a time of 1 minutes, 54.74 seconds – breaking his own mark of 1:55.15 set two years ago.

In the 100 fly, world record-holder Ian Crocker of Portland put up the best time of the semis, winning his heat in 51.25. Phelps won the other heat in 51.89, setting up another head-to-head showdown on Tuesday.

Crocker already qualified in the 100 freestyle over the weekend with a second-place finish of 49.06.

Phelps took the second Olympic spot at 1:55.86 in the 200 backstroke but found out how difficult it will be to race in so many events against specialized swimmers. He’s entered six individual events at the trials, hoping to compete in up to nine races at the Athens Games.

“Peirsol had a great race. It was a great battle,” Phelps said. “I always like to win, but Peirsol is a great competitor. In five weeks, I guess we’ll figure out who’s No. 1 and who’s No. 2.”

Peirsol is a backstroker exclusively, having gone nearly four years since his last loss in the 200.

“I don’t ever want to lose my race,” he said. “I love that thing. Phelps is pretty good coming home, but I am too in that event. He went for it. It was a pretty tough race.”

When it was over, Peirsol climbed atop a lane rope, pumping his fist at the cheering Southern California crowd. He is a native of nearby Irvine.

“I’ve never really felt that elated after a race,” the normally laid back Peirsol said.

Phelps, on the other hand, rested his head against the wall of the pool, then climbed slowly out of the water. Maybe the 19-year-old was just tired – he already had raced a prelim in the morning, and he had three more races at the evening session.

After the loss, Phelps returned just 28 minutes later to win the 200 individual medley. He faded in the second half of the race but still won easily at 1:56.71 – 0.77 off his own world record. Ryan Lochte took the second Olympic spot at 1:59.71.

“I actually think I’m starting to warm up a little bit,” said Phelps, whose finished up the night with the second-fastest time in the 100 butterfly semifinals – three races in a little over an hour. “I’m feeling better and better.”

Phelps became the first American male to qualify for the Olympics in five individual events, and he’s claimed a spot in the 800 meter freestyle relay as well.

The first final of the night produced Beard’s world record. She didn’t waste any time reclaiming her mark in the 200 breaststroke, dominating a field that included four other Olympians.

She won by nearly 5 seconds at 2:22.44, breaking the record that Australia’s Leisel Jones had established Friday at a meet Down Under. Jones’ time of 2:22.96 edged the record Beard had shared with China’s Hui Qi.

“It wasn’t really about making a statement,” Beard said. The record “wasn’t really on my mind, but a lot of people were asking, ‘Are you going to go for it?’ Being able to break a world record pushes you more. I always enjoy it.”

Beard is heading to her third Olympics, qualifying in her third event of the trials. She was the teenage sweetheart at Atlanta in 1996, lugging a giant teddy bear to pool deck and winning three medals. She added a bronze in the 200 breaststroke at Sydney four years ago, and heads to Athens as a favorite.

Caroline Bruce was the surprise runner-up, earning her first trip to the Olympics in 2:27.22. Former Olympians Kristy Kowal (third), Megan Quann (sixth) and Staciana Stitts (eighth) failed to qualify for Athens. Tara Kirk, already going to the Olympics in the 100 breaststroke, finished fifth.