default-cbs-image

In his second qualifying heat of the day, Michael Phelps touched the wall in one of his most dominant events, the 200-meter butterfly, in 1:54.12, good for second place. Hungary's Tamas Kenderesi (1:53.96) was the fastest in the heat.

But it's the swimmer who took third, South Africa's Chad Le Clos, who was bizarrely shadow boxing and dancing right in front of Phelps prior to the two's semifinal heat. In the video, Phelps looks like he's turning full-on into another being. It was riveting, and weird.

When asked by NBC's Michele Tafoya what he was thinking pre-race, as Le Clos did his routine, Phelps said, "Nothing, honestly, I was trying not to really even look at him. He does his thing, I do my thing. ... I'm obviously excited for that final, and that's probably my best 200 fly of the year. I finished well and am happy."

This is good for business, and it's a real rivalry unfolding here. Phelps was motivated enough to beat out Le Clos in the heat. It will certainly be must-watch on Tuesday night in the 200-meter fly final. Either swimmer is capable of taking gold. Remember, it was Le Clos who defeated Phelps four years ago in the same event in London.

"It's always to get in the water and race him," Phelps said. "You know, he's tough. He finished on me last time really well. If I hit my turns the right way and swim the race I want to swim, that's all I can do."

In getting to the final, Phelps becomes the first swimmer in Olympic history to reach the final five times in one event.

And what a final this will be. Because Phelps will no doubt have plenty of inducement to go all out in what should almost certainly be the final 200-meter race of his career.