Phelps turns happy in Cali

IRVINE, Calif. -- Something seemed amiss with Michael Phelps Friday night.

All season, Phelps' standard line after a race has been something along the lines of "I'm not in shape," or "That swim was awful."

He has not seemed truly happy in the water, even after a victory.

Is it gamesmanship to get into the minds of his competitors? Or is he truly unsatisfied (and at times disgusted) with his performances in the pool?

Phelps addressed the media after he led the 400m freestyle relay team to gold at the Pan-Pacific Championships Friday night. But instead of towing the Phelps company line, he was ... happy.

He even smiled a few times. Him and Ryan Lochte were laughing it up on the medal stand.

So what's going on?

"I felt like I was gaining momentum and gaining speed," Phelps said of his leadoff leg in the relay. "I started passing people so I knew it was gonna be a good leg."

And on the 100m butterfly, which he won earlier Friday, Phelps was partially displeased but actually started laughing about it.

"Going out a three or four tenths of a second slower the first 50, I wasn't too happy about that," Phelps said. "But I was able to close really well. That's another thing that needs to get worked on is some front-half speed.

The giggling took place as he emphasized "another."

In his three individual events in Irvine thus far, Phelps has two gold medals as he failed to make the finals cut in the 400m individual medley. But he does have two relay titles, and, according to some swimmers, those are the races that mean the most at big meets such as this one.

Phelps will have one more opportunity for an individual medal in Saturday's 200m IM, a race in which he will more than likely face Lochte if they both make the final.

For swimming fans that would be a thrilling matchup. And to Phelps if he loses?

Judging by this current trend, it might not bring him down too much.