FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHH. Kinda pumped for this.

I don't think I can make a prediction on every event, but a couple general ones:

-Michael Andrew makes the team, but I'm thinking maybe in 100 breast and 400 free relay
-Lochte doesn't make the team, but I think the 200IM will be the most unpredictable race on the men's side, especially if Dressel decides to race it.
-Finke gets close to WR in the 1500m
-Nathan Adrian makes the team for 400FR
-Dressel breaks at least one WR. Throws down a 200 free that is worthy of relay consideration but doesn't swim in finals (like 1:45 low).
-Grothe and Haas may not make the team, although Haas should be at least a lock for the 800FR. Grothe has to contend with Smith, Finke, Magahey, Wilimovsky, and a few others across the distance events.
-Casas makes his first team, but I'm not sure if it will be by coming second to Murphy in a backstroke or getting there in the 200IM (plus outside shot at 800FR).

The IM's in particular are stacked:
200IM: Casas, Dressel, Kalisz, Andrew, Foster, Seliskar, Lochte. If anyone gets under 1:55 they should be a lock
400IM: Litherland, Foster (x2), Finke, Kalisz. Smith can throw down a fast time too if he swims.

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Headed to Omaha next Wednesday to take in Wednesday through Saturday finals sessions and the Friday morning session.

Looking for Katie to dominate once again.

As a former Mission Viejo Nads swimmer, I’ll be cheering on Michael Brinegar and Will Gallant and all the other Nadadores. Michael is seeded fourth in the 800. He will have to have the swim of his life to make the cut.

The women’s 200 breast will be an exciting race between Annie Lazor and Lilly King.

 
Is Nathan going for 400m???? That's interesting!

400FR = 400 Free Relay =)

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I agree that is one of the fastest....but not THE fastest

Lots of talented swimmers across the Globe, Katinka Hosszu, Sarah Sjostrom, Florent Manaudou, Le Clous to name a few! :)

Got it now! thx

Still, it would be hes 4th Olympic games...is that it? Remarkable not doubt !

I heard this Ledecky woman has a decent shot to make the team again.

Sometimes this meet is faster through 16 than the Olympics themselves - at least in my mind. If you don't want to say fastest, most pressure packed to be sure. Harder to make the US team than medal in some events.

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

I agree that is one of the fastest....but not THE fastest //

It all depends on the metric you use for fastest meet in the world. It is definitely a 3 horse race, US olympic trials, olympics, or Division 1 NCAA's. I tend to lean that NCAA's are the fastest meet, because you get most of the world's college age swimmers there. Then I would go trials, then the olympics, using depth as the determining factor. Overall top times would be the games or NCAA's, but different formats and hard to compare that way..


I'm pumped!!

50 Fr Manuel/Weitzel
100 Fr Manuel/Weitzel/Cruzan/Huske/Brown/Walsh (Ledecky prelims only to put up a time)
200 Fr LedeckySchmitt/Margalis/McLaughlin/Manuel/Cox
400 Fr Ledecky/Smith
800 Fr Ledecky/Smith
1500 Fr Ledecky/McHugh
100 Bk Smith/White
200 Bk Smith/Bacon
100 Br King/Lazor
200 Br Lazor/King
100 fl Huske/Dahlia
200 fl Flickinger/Smith
200 IM Cox/Margalis
400 IM Margalis/Mchugh

50 Fr Dressel/Held
100 Fr Dressel/Held/Apple/Pieroni/Rooney/Adrian
200 Fr Smith/Seliskar/Pieroni/Haas/Foster/Farris (Dressel prelims only - fast enough to make the individual?)
400 Fr Smith/Grothe
800 Fr Finke/Willimovsky
1500 Fr Finke/Wilimovsky
100 Bk Murphy/Grevers (old man strength FTW - he's the last of my generation, haha)
200 Bk Murphy/Katz
100 Br Andrew/Fink
200 Br Lincon/Fink
100 fl Dressel/Andrew
200 fl Urlando/Julian
200 IM damn this is hard (sentimental favorite event, duh) Kalisz/Seliskar
400 IM Kalisz/Litherland

Honestly I don't think the 400im is that good - only a couple guys sniffing sub 4:10, Kalisz really hasn't put his nose in the wind in the last couple years and it's going to take ~4:05 to make an impact in Tokyo

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

I originally had tickets and I even had some success reselling some others at a profit prior to covid. All that got cancelled and I didn't repurchase tickets cause my daughter didn't want to take the time off work. Wished I could have went. I'm really pulling for Tom Shields to make the team again.

edit Swimswam has a pick em contest. If anyone else does it, post your scores here.

Tried to do the pick 'em, it's a google docs form that is so slow. don't have an hour to fill that out.

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She is the Edwin Moses of woman’s distance swimming. One of these days, she will lose and it will be a shocker.

Could you post a live link to the upcoming swims, I believe swimswam is covering it live and after the fact? I would just like to be able to come here to log onto the races, then see all the banter back and forth about them!! If you feel like it, maybe your original post at the top for easy access...

I put the link to the swimswam “how to watch” article in the OP.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

I'm not making any predictions but rather will just say that I'm rooting for Erica Brown to make team at least on the 4 x 100 free relay, and maybe in the 100 FL. She did set the American record in the 100 yd FL at the 2020 SECs. While that record has now been broken, I'm hoping she can still be in the top two. She is my "sentimental favorite" b/c she swam my club last summer when the U of TN's pool was still closed. She swam in the lane right next to me and we talked a few times, so she is the only top current swimmer I can say I kind of know personally. :)

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Thanks for that link, that will make it so much easier..

For the men my hope is that Caleb is on fire and gets all the events he swims in. I would love to see Lochte and Ervin swim like their old selves and get on the team, as well as Adrian. Michael Andrew should be on that team somewhere, he would be a great guy for filling in the relays too. But only two in each(plus relays) and that is a huge ask among this super talented field. You see a guy like Dean Faris who blew up the world at one point, now just looking to make a final. But guys like him can absolutely sneak in an event that the favorites are just a wee bit off in, so gonna have to be a full shave and taper for just about everyone I would guess, even Caleb. He might be the only guy that doest get 100% rest, but it will have to be close to that to make sure he is clear. I really hope he does the 200IM and 200free, I always felt he could be the best in the world in both those events, but really never gets to show it because of all the others he has to swim..

So is he going to go for a huge haul this games? He gets every relay plus whatever events he chooses, but at what cost? No doubt he has a podium time in the 200 fly, but what a grueler for a sprinter like he is. Phelps had that one foot into distance and one in the sprints that allowed him to swim 200fly and 400IM, but I think Caleb does not have that extra 100 in distance that phelps had. Of course that is what makes him the overwhelming favorite in 50's and 100's, something Phelps was happy to just be on relay's for in the free...

I feel like if the 50 free didn’t exist Caleb would be a better swimmer. He’d do the 100/200 free/fly and dominate all 4. He’s a cool dude too. But at this meet, I won’t be surprised if he gets 2nd to held in the 100, Dressel is on short rest.

two Texas swimmers, Foster and Rooney, are in danger of being first alternate in a bunch of events.

Maddy Banic wins the 100 fly.

I won’t root against anyone, but I am not a Micheal Andrew fan. I hope Andrew and Andrew Wilson swim next to each other so when they have the names listed in the lane before the race it says “Andrew Wilson.”

I am so excited for the meet. Life feels a little normal again. I’ll watch finals with my family every night and then my son has a meet next weekend. It is going to be great.

Ledecky lost the 400 to Titmus at 2019 Pan Pacifics, her last big international meet. She was sick. Don’t expect her to lose in Tokyo, but she’s not quite in Edwin Moses territory for consecutive wins.

https://www.si.com/...mpic-try-daily-cover

After reading this article I’m kinda worried what will happen if Lochte doesn’t make the team.

Really hope Ervin makes it. He has the most interesting backstory out of all of them.

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Strava

Will be cheering for Ervin as well. Gained a ton of respect from reading his story and seeing him compete against us mere mortals at the 2019 USMS Nationals summer meet.

Ervin Is my favorite. You’ve just got a route for that guy after all he’s been through. I am also hoping Nathan Adrian swims really well. He’s had a rough couple years also, going through cancer.

I think that Michael Andrew has matured quite a bit in the last year or so and he’s swimming pretty well recently.

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Just read the article. Very interesting. First thing I thought of is how similar it sounds to Mickey Mantle’s career. I wonder how much better both would have been if they had not drunk themselves into the ground.

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Let food be thy medicine...

Aus trials on now, Ledecky’s WR almost went down.

Wouldn't be so sure just yet!


Titmus just swam a 3:56.90 in the Australian trials .... 7 seconds ahead of second place. Ledecky's WR is 3:56.46.

Awesome swim by Titmus and sets us up for great racing at the Olympics. Let’s see what Ledecky’s got and if she can respond.

Well since the Aussie women have won 0 gold medals in the last 2 games, I’ll reserve judgement til Tokyo on the dangers posed on that front 😉

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

I was reading the article and did not realize that Lochte's first coach after his dad was Anthony Nesty (the guy that beat Biondi and Gross at the 100 fly at Seoul 88)

I assume by fastest meet in the world, you are saying that the top 8 finalists average time is faster than the Olympics. Kind of like the Kenyan or Ethiopian marathon and 10,000m trials, will have deeper fields than the entire world can field.

Also what events is Lochte attempting to qual for? In the SI article it says he is close to some of his all time best times in practices. Its not impossible to believe because although 36 is old for a swimmer, in other power sports, we've had some pretty awesome results. Example would be Linford Christie, who I believe was 36 when he false started at the Atlanta Olympics 100m. If you can make the Olympic finals in the 100m sprint at 36, its certainly possible in swimming. And Torres was 40 for her silver? Renaldo is 36 at the the top of the game in soccer that combines power and endurance (and of course there is a higher skill component that is unmeasurable relative to everything in swimming being measurable). What are his chances.

His old usual slate including the 400IM I think (edit- scratched the 400IM this morning). What will he make it in? Nothing. Maybe the 4x200 free relay as the 5th or 6th guy. The story of his career is when he’s peak he’s peak, but when he’s shite he’s shite. So hard to say where on that spectrum he is these days, but I’m guessing the latter more than the former.

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

The difference being Torres was an absolute freak about training. I remember reading about how she used a rolling backpack at the Olympics because she thought a traditional backpack put too much stress on her traps.

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Strava

Titmus swam a 3:56.90 last night in the 400. 2nd fastest in history and the fastest time by anyone since 2018.

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___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

I think you meant 0 individual gold.

They won the 4x100 FR in 2012 and 2016.

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___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

Sure. But the point still holds. They have come roaring in with sky high expectations the last 2 games, and scraped out with a pittance. (Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I’m awash in Olympic medals and world records, but still).

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

https://swimswam.com/...aussie-olympic-team/

WR in W100Back. It's going to take a 57 to medal.

---

___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

Well Grothe was a bust.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

No one under the A cut either. I have my doubts that 2 will make it tonight.

---

___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

I really didn't think Grothe had a shot in the 400, but kinda expected him to final. Haas also slow on the back half.

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3:46.78 is the qualifying time . Not even close...

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___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

 Pretty positive it would be the first time *ever* that 2 didn’t make it from the US. Been a middling event for a while now and the mediocrity about to rear its ugly head. Unless those boys were really holding back this morning.

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Meanwhile in Adelaide Mack Horton came 3rd in a time of 3:43.92 and Winnington coming first with a 3:42.65

That event in particular seems a bit fast. There have only been 16 men under that time all year, and 4 of them are from AUS trials yesterday. Smith can definitely do it, his 500 scy time translates well under that standard (so does Jake Magahey but he missed finals).

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That turn and underwater
... boom

---

___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

Smith can definitely go under the mark based on his 500. They will all have to go out faster but anyone who goes 4:10 or faster should be able to make the Olympic A cut and there are several guys in finals who can do that.

Meanwhile, Michael Andrew total blew the doors off in the 100 breast prelim. If he can swim that time again tonight and tomorrow I don't think anyone is going to be able to match him. I wonder if this performance means he'll scratch the 100 back tomorrow (he may have already).

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I'm watching the following:

Lillie Nordmann
Lucie Nordmann
Kaitlyn Sims

And the reason I'm rooting for them is I've coached all of them at one point or another when they swam at Magnolia Aquatic Club.

Tim

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http://www.magnoliamasters.com
http://www.snappingtortuga.com
http://www.swimeasyspeed.com

I'm enjoying the Australia vs USA aspects of this thread.

Carry on.

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I only swim.
I used to run. (31:09 10k)
I never did Triathlon.
Sue me.

I have to say, being a relative newbie to swimming, and rarely following swimming news, this Ledecky-Titmus rivalry is riveting.

---

I only swim.
I used to run. (31:09 10k)
I never did Triathlon.
Sue me.

Thanks for starting this thread up, I probably would have totally not realized this was happening otherwise (its been so long since I was a swimmer and in the know).

Pretty impressed by the women's 100 fly semis, I didn't think anyone would be close to touching Sarah Sjoestroem WR. I always thought she was in a different class from the rest of the world. But 55.78 from Torri Huske!

Well 3/6 right tonight. Both IMs were thrilling races. I didn’t think anything could top the men’s finish, but the women’s was crazy!

Huske’s swim was gorgeous.

Andrew’s AR today shocked me. Never was a fan of his, but credit where credit is due.

Not to take anything away from Smith, but the debacle of the men's 400 is unprecedented in the US. Grothe really blew it this morning, being the only other man under the FINA A standard.

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Watching the underwater shot, I did not realize how wide the pull is supposed to be in back stroke. She is almost doing one armed snow angel leaning on the shoulder blade of the pulling arm. Is this what I am supposed to do. I am not sure I am explaining properly what I am seeing

Here are some allegations made by previous olympic medallist, Maddie Groves, who has withdrawn from Oly trials in OZ:

https://www.theguardian.com/...drawal-over-perverts

Not exactly allegations, more like insinuations? At any rate, someone looked at her weird in her suit? I wish she would just come out and say what she thinks is going on, because on the surface of her comments, sounds more like a minor issue that gets resolved behind the scenes. But maybe it is more, hard to tell at this point..

Andrew’s AR today shocked me. Never was a fan of his, but credit where credit is due. //

I don't know the guy, dont know anyone who knows him, so will reserve judgement on that aspect after he matures a bit. But I'm a huge fan of his swimming, love what he is doing with his unorthodox training regime, and it looks like he hit his taper perfect for a really big meet. Dude could get as many events as Caleb does, and make all the relays too. It's really exciting to see someone who was knocking on the door get let in, and see just how good they really can be. I really want to see his 200IM, I think that has gold medal potential written all over it if he hits that one like he has done on his breast today...

This adds quite a wrinkle:

From https://swimswam.com/...-1-finals-live-recap

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

I was wondering why there wasn't a contingency like that, but I guess there is!

https://swimswam.com/...free-final-what-now/

I was drilling into the fine print of the selection policy. I would think some refinement should be in order.

I think a selection committee should decide if Grothe gets the nomination within 24 hours. If they think he is fit and just had a bad day finalize his nomination. But the policy is pretty loose... so the FINA deadline it is.

---

___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

It's pretty wide open. They could have said the highest ranked swimmer on the final day of trials gets the spot.

---

___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

They cannot answer the question immediately: there is no guarantee that there will be room for him. Only 26 spots.

I feel like 2nd place in the 400 free was swimming the 400 IM (finke and possibly Bentz)

My point was they had the opportunity to m have a more defined what if criteria. They could certainly end date it for the day after trials.

---

___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

Don't think he's gonna make it. I hope he proves me wrong. Next week is Canadian trials, the new poster boy for old man strength in the sprints is Brent Hayden at 37.

---

___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

Random observations and opinions:

1. MA going 58 low potentially solves a huge problem for the US men's 4X100 MR.
2. Sadly, Carson Foster's habit of producing a disastrous free leg in the 400 IM continues to rear its ugly head. 2024, here he comes.
3. I don't think Curzan can take down Huske in the final. I don't think Curzan will go any faster than her in season 56.2. Curzan still makes the team, though.
4. Thank God for Smith saving a tiny bit of the American men's pride in the 400. Imagine if no one made the cut in Trials. Has that ever happened?

There’s a cut that gets you 1 swimmer and there’s a cut that gets you a second swimmer. The cut for your first swimmer was like a 3:52. We had double digits worth of swimmers hit that one.

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____________________________________________________
Ever Grateful, Ever True.
Boiler Up.
Hammer Down.
Hail Purdue

tallswimmer wrote:

His old usual slate including the 400IM I think (edit- scratched the 400IM this morning). What will he make it in? Nothing. Maybe the 4x200 free relay as the 5th or 6th guy. The story of his career is when he’s peak he’s peak, but when he’s shite he’s shite. So hard to say where on that spectrum he is these days, but I’m guessing the latter more than the former.

It seems Lochte's story made the national news in Canada:

https://www.cbc.ca/...ing-trials-1.6063429

I hope he is financially set from when he was on top of his game anyway. I did not realize how self destructive he had been with alcohol and where he could have gotten to if that was not the case. But everyone has their challenges harder when it is in the public eye.

My guess is if Grothe makes the team in another event, they'll give him the 400 spot also. Otherwise, maybe they have someone that does make it either in the 200 or 800 do a time trial at this meet, which might be difficult since some of the names I'm thinking should have a shot like Magahey and Finke are probably swimming the 800 and 1500. I can't imagine they want to leave a selection spot open after trials is over, but keeping it open might give some guys who didn't swim in the final (Grothe, Haas, Finke, Magahey) a chance to go to a last chance meet to qualify. I am pretty sure all 4 of those guys can get under the A cut (or have in the past).

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Holy F*ck

Titmus just swam a 1:53.09 in the 200m free. .11 of a second off Pellegrini's 2009 record... 1.52.98

It's not Grothe's spot until June 27. Every swimmer from 6-10th has until then to do 3:46 and then they would jump ahead of him for placing higher at Trials. That 400 spot only gets picked up if a few swimmers make multiple events, which usually happens.

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I swim fast because I'm afraid of sharks.

I didn’t realize, or had just forgotten, we only had 26 spots until the commentators were taking about what a luxury it was having a Michael Phelps on the team doing so many events that it left spots open for things like additional relay swimmers. Maybe only the top 2 100 free and 200free swimmers make it instead of taking a few extra and the relays have to filled out with others that might not be their best event. I get that some guys can do both really well, but maybe a 200 guy might have to do a 100 or vice versa and someone that would have been faster for the relay slot is left out.

the criteria for selecting the 26 is already set. Thankfully the committee doesn't share your views on relays : )

The top 4 in the relays get precedent over any 2nd place finisher.

Andrew Wilson looked really comfortable in the 100 breast yesterday. With Fink putting up a 58.5 the pressure is still on MA to throw down a great time. But what do I know, my wildcard 100 flyer didn't make it out of the prelims!

Lochte a bit of a bust in the 200 free heat, 149+ 25th place. Dressel was second so I suppose that secures his place in the relay and now he’s done with the 200 free.

dressels start… watching it doesn’t get old!

Day 2 prelims observations:

• W100bk gonna be a fight. I'm sure they'll want to put up a number after McKeown's swim this week. A bit disappointed in Beata Nelson here honestly. Such a dominant SCY backstroker, and a solid 100 fly yesterday.
  
  
• M200fr Lochte's toast. No making the team in the 200im if all you've got is 1:49 in the 200 free. Dressel did enough to secure a Tokyo swim and has scratched. Would be nice to see some 144/145's from the gang tonight.
  
  
• W100br It's all Lilly's show, but great swims for Galat and Lazor. Jacoby in 4th is a cool story - she's from Alaska with no long course around.
  
  
• M100bk Huge drop for Mefford, but I think we'll see the vets flex some muscle tonight in semis.
  
  
• W400fr Katie and then everyone else. Will be interesting to see how much effort katie puts into finals, vs just making the team. Behind her? who knows...

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Interesting meet so far. Both 400IMs really exciting and remarkable the 2 men, 5 years later swimming the same race and same results. Often the Trials is a story of the young knocking off the old. Such is the case, and had to feel bad for Margalis.

Men’s 400 discouraging. Could Finke have gone 3:46?

I’ll defer to the more knowledgable, but for both swimming and track and field, the concept of semi-finals just seems to drag out a championship meet with no real benefit. Most except the absolute super stars need to/should be going all out in prelims.

It does drag it out, but at least for swimming, it's the same exact schedule as the olympics. The idea is that trials is a "practice" of the olympic schedule. I imagine track is similar.

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blog

Yes, I get that, but why should the Olympics have semi’s? They’ve gotten kind of bloated over the years with adding sports and events. I thought maybe coaches or TV execs would push to just prelims/finals. Unless there’s some benefit I’m overlooking

Sure - $$ for NBC! Swimming is amongst the biggest draws for them, such that at each of the last 2 eastern hemisphere games (Beijing and Tokyo), NBC has convinced the IOC to flip to morning Finals so they can be live in the USA. As with all things international sport, money talks.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Where is everyone? I can't get the live video but am watching the live results. Glad Andrew hung on to take the win, I think he is the guy we want on that A relay. What about Katie, is she swimming really tired, had a bad race, or just enough to win easily? I was thinking if she was on, she would have fired a shot back at Titmus, but it was more like throwing a pebble.

I'm going to guess that she is swimming through this meet, one of the few, if not the only person who gets that luxury. Nice to see the men drop some more time in the 200's, and with Caleb will make a very fine 4x200 relay. WOmens 100 fly looks super solid, also gives a good chance at that medley relay with our ace in the hole breastroker..

Tonight’s session is on live on NBC. I’m sitting here watching it right now. The earlier session was on NBCSN.

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Titmus is apparently swimming through Aussie Trials, ie not rested. Will be good to see her beat Ledecky ;)

Where did you get your information of Titmus not being tapered and rested? Based on her times, that is doubtful.

Yeah sure, good bet, because the Aussies have such a strong tradition of performing under pressure at the Olympics

Watch her races, there are comments on it. She was clearly going to qualify first in Oz, so why would she need to be fully tapered and rested?

Also interestingly, she has a strong kick but sometimes breathes every 4th stroke in a 400 free - which goes totally against some of the thoughts on this message board.

Andrew winning give more credibility to USRPT! Now only if I could get my Masters coach to agree. ..

---

Strava

I was surprised Rowdy didn’t comment on Kathleen Baker’s turn in the 100 back. She was so close to the lane line that when she turned over and did her final pull into the wall, her arm contacted the lane line pretty hard. I’m sure it threw her off on the turn and her underwater. She was in the thick of it until then.

What a swim from Huske. I'm seeing this a lot in my picks, valuing experience over youth - but that youth ain't so youthful, and age isn't helpful when the Olympic cycle's an extra year.

Men's 200 pretty much on form there, would have liked to see a bit quicker, or a couple more 1:45's. Going to be tough to medal at the games without some drops for the 4x2

King looked much better in semis, and it looks to be a horse apiece for the second spot in the 100br

What a race in the Men's 100br - so tight across, Andrew almost choked it away. Swimming the 100bk seems like a mistake. First time ever 2 non NCAA D1 athletes made the team in an event? Wilson swam D3 at Emory, and Andrew went pro at 14 for those supplement dollars...

400 free - hopefully Katie's just swimming through. Madden had a nice swim. In 4th though was Haley Anderson - i wonder what this kind of pool speed means for her 10k OW in Tokyo?

100 bk semis - pretty on form for Murphy, and really tight behind him.

100 bk semis Regan looked great, really nice for Berkoff to continue the family tradition. Not sure if anyone else noticed but Aaron Piersol was sitting right next to Dave Berkoff in the stands. That's a lotta firepower right there.

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

She also broke her foot not long ago, and I wonder if she might have jammed it on the turn or something or pushed it too hard off the start and it caught up to her (or fitness caught up to her). Looked pretty limpy leaving the deck.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

I heard them talk about Kathleen’s foot before the start. I do feel bad for her being the former WR holder.

I’ll be rooting for Grevers tonight. That dude is a beast.

I’m somewhat disappointed in the overall commentating. When Dan Hicks would call the race, Rowdy seemed to talk more during the race. Tirico is a good announcer and knows his stuff, but Rowdy’s the expert, so I’d like to hear more from him. Just my observation.

Baker’s turn wasn’t great, but she lost a transfer spot in the last 25.

---

"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"

Smoliga looked disappointed with her semi’s swim. Hope she makes it in 100BK and maybe a freestyle relay. US Women who swam in Rio falling to the youngsters. Hard to hang on for 5 years.

I really wish Dressel had swum the 200 semi's. With his start he could have dragged the field out faster, maybe gotten some more guys into the 1:45 range, and Smith hasn't hit his full capability yet. Plus, Dressel has no swims today-- so it's even possible he's not at his 100% taper and shave yet. Since there are 4 guys who have been under 1:30scy, there should be at least that many capable of 1:45; I just don't think they are going out aggressively enough (same issue in the 400).

I agree MA swimming the 100 back doesn't make sense, he's got no shot at top 2, now he's doing two extra swims for no reason with like 4 events to go, all with semi's. Fading hard in your first event's finals doesn't bode well for holding form the rest of the week. But, he's on the team now and if they have to cut a couple of 2nd place finishers in the shorter events he's a good backup since he will likely final in all 4 100's plus the 50 free and 200 IM (although, maybe he tanks the 200 IM? if he barely makes semi's he should probably scratch given the deep field in that event).

100 back men-- Murphy looks dominant. I think Casas shut it down a little too much, I don't think he would crash the last 15m as he's got a good 200 (actually he's good at like all the 200's except breast).

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I have serious questions about MA's 200IM -- he struggled to hold onto his first 100m race (maybe the weight of the expectations caught up more than the fitness?), and finishing the IM has never been something that's gone well for him - blazing 150, dragging in last 50. Got to think he's gotta drop it and focus on the 50 free and 100 fly at the end of the meet.

Thorpe's been saying for years that guys are too afraid to swim the 400 and 200 - gotta embrace the suck.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Well we know now what the plan is for the men 400 free:
https://swimswam.com/...0th-place-finishers/

This plan seems very odd and they should have had better contingency plans before trials. To me this is very unfair to Grothe who doesn't get a chance to improve his time the same way 9th and 10th place finishers do. It also leaves out a chance for Bobby Finke who is probably capable of going under the A cut and who only didn't swim the 400 free so he could swim the 400 IM (and was 4th). This plan is half-assedly trying to keep the Trials finish order but really only helps those for whom this time trial doesn't screw with the rest of their events; they should just open it up and say 'fastest American in the 400 free (under Olympic A cut) before June 27 can be considered for this spot' with a preference to those who already are on the team for another event.

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Swimming is such a family affair; I know several D1 swimmers at my club whose parents also swam D1, and often they swim the same events that their parents did. Of course, there are also several who could have prob gotten to the D1 level but the kids just chose not to, did not want to have to compete with their Mom/Dad's legacy. :)

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Grothe had the same shot everyone else had. He finished 11th, and right now he's got a spot on the Olympic Team as one of the 2 highest finishers at the US Olympic Trials who also have the Olympic Qualifying Standard of 3:46.78.
Every finisher between 2nd and 10th has until June 27th to swim under the Olympic Qualifying Standard.
The order of placement at Olympic Trials is the determining factor. If Jake Mitchell swims 3:46.78 and Brooks Fail swims 3:43.00, Jake gets the spot. Jake placed 2nd so he would become the highest placing swimmer with the Olympic Qualifying Standard. Doesn't matter that Zane once swam 3:45 or Brooks would have then swum 3:43, and it definitely doesn't matter what Bobby Finke would have hypothetically swam.

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I swim fast because I'm afraid of sharks.

I think you do not understand what this is:

The standing from the contested event cannot be changed. So nothing Groethe does can put his selection ahead of Jake Mitchell (who finished 2nd place). The only thing Groethe can "hope" for is no one else meets the eligibility standard of 3:46.78

Lets say 2 swimmer in the time trial make the cut. Mitchel goes 3:46.6 and Dant (who got 3rd on Sunday night) goes a surprising 3:43 surpassing EVERYONE. Even with that: Dant does not get the spot . That is because of the (then) 4 eligible swimmers for the 400 free at the Olympics - Smith, Mitchel, Dant and Groethe - Smith and Mitchel placed highest at the trials.

Step 1: who is eligible
Step 2: who placed highest at trials?

Groethe is already eligible, Groethe - nor anyone else - cannot move up or down from 11th at trials.

funny that we more or less used the same example. I had mitchel at 3:46.6 though : )

I understand the rules. In your scenario the US has just shot itself in the foot with regards to medals at the Olympics by not taking the fastest swimmer. Which is why I think it's a bad plan.


Also because there is a chance that this 2nd qualifier isn't on the team if the 26-swimmer limit is a factor. So these 10 guys could go out and swim several more times trying to qualify for a spot that may not exist.

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I don't think either are particularly a threat to medal. IT is going to take a 3:43. I'll be happy with a bronze from Smith. So the the extent that there is sanctity of the trials, I'm not willing to bend for Grothe. *IF* Grothe were the WR holder and he false started in prelims....I might feel differently about the TT.

Thorpe's been saying for years that guys are too afraid to swim the 400 and 200 - gotta embrace the suck.//

Well Phelps and Lochte both swam lots of 200's, and the 400IM, quite successfully. I have no doubt either of those guys, but especially Phelps, could have done some spectacular times, perhaps even a WR. That 4;03 he did may stand like a Beamon record, doesnt look like anyone is going to get with 3 seconds of it this games..

Oh certainly - this is in reference to the 200 and 400 freestyles specifically. It’s like nobody remembers how they swam pre rubber suit in those events (even though the current crop of athletes were but 10 years old then).

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Dave is pretty close with all the US backstrokers. They've been doing clinics for years.
He's almost as good of a youth coach as he was an athlete.

But credit to Kathrine. I shared a lane with her at practice when she was in 8th grade (for most of a year). She is easily the hardest working 8th grader I've ever seen. And only became more focused from there.
And no, I did not keep up with her in the slightest.

Yep. I was on the board of USA Swimming with him for a number of years, and Aaron was our rep to FINA at the time too. The US Backstroke fraternity is prestigious and tight knit to be sure.

Another fun fact - Dave is halfway through his AT through hike and is on a 10 day break for the meet. 1100 miles down 1100 to go, and he’s flying along with 25-30 mile days!

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

That's awesome. I'm a big fan of Dave. He's helped me a lot over the years.
As long as we're doing Berkoff fun facts....
What Hawaii podium finisher did Dave give swim lessons too as they where starting the sport?

Kyle Chalmers 47.59, 'cruising' to qualification at the Aussie trials.

I just rewatched Smith winning the 400, and he has adopted the double breath technique we talked about here, but only into the turn. He also breaths out of every turn, I think we can put that one to rest from the old wives tales told about the proper technique for breathing and turns..

Also rewatched Katie's 400, it looks like she died, not slowed down on purpose. She was out good, but the about the only thing Rowdy has said that is correct(and agreed with me!!) was that she was the only person in the meet to not to have been on a full taper. A few might be on limited rest, but she could be swimming right through the meet, or at least had the potential too..

Jake Mitchell just put an end to this debate, going 3:45.86 in a solo time trial with the crowd roaring for him. :)

https://swimswam.com/the-most-electric-time-trial-in-swimming-history/

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Always cool to see what ages of people are killing it at trials. Plenty of younger men and women smashing it! 3 guys under 1:46 in the 200 free. Matt Grevers, a massive unit of a man...6'8", 240lbs and 36 years old making finals in the 100 back, and finishing 5th. This is a great trials meet!

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"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

What an awesome ballsy swim. Out way faster and look what happened!

• 200 fr Semis - Ledecky and ??? Madden's on a hot streak, Schmitt's the veteran. Will be a great race tonight.
• 200 fr Finals - Hope there's 4-5 more seconds across the 4 finals swimmers if they want to sniff the medals in Tokyo
• 100 bk Final - Some nerves in the final there, good for Smith and White.
• 100 bk Final - Who the heck is Hunter Armstrong? First whaa? of the meet. End of an era for Matt Grevers - a true gentle giant of the sport.
• 100 br Final - King on form, awesome story for Jacoby. Hopefully NBC stays out of her face in the leadup to the games and lets her do her thing instead of pushing-pushing-pushing on the swimmer from Seward AK angle
• 200 fl Semi - bunch of *shrug* across the board there. 155 is fine i guess, but guys have been going that for 20 years...
• 200 im Semi - swim of the session (not counting time trials😉) for Alex Walsh - wow! Looks like scrapping for second tonight.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

This is the kind of thing that makes US trials so amazing - not just the individual times, but the astonishing depth of times:


https://www.instagram.com/p/CQKchvOgHSa/

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

That was awesome. The cool thing about a time trial is everyone is rooting for the same person. Some of my fondest memories from college was rooting for rivals at our conference meet who were trying to get NCAA cuts…

So with all the alternates there are 36 slots to fill.

This means you need 10 double up swims to bring all the alternates.

Dressel -2 (in other words, he will make the team in 3 events)
K Smith - 1 (and maybe one more in the 100 or 800 - he needs to decide which event)
Apple - 1 (he is making top 6 in 100)
Kibbler - 1 (he is very likely making top 6 in the 100)
Wilmovski/Finke -2 (if they don’t double up I’ll be surprised save Smith in the 800)
200 IM: -1 I think foster gets one spot the other spot is almost for sure MA, Chase K, or Seli (sorry Lochte)
200 Back -1 Murphy

Assuming that all happens you have to get 1 spot here:

200 breast : hmmm MAYBE Wilson
200 Fly : Litherland has a shot
200 back 2nd place. Unless Casas does something unexpected in the 100 free/fly I don’t see this. But maybe.
100 fly second spot - MA. Or maybe Rooney gets this spot and a 100 free spot.
50 free: I’d say decent chance 2nd place is a double from the 100, I just don’t know who it will be.
100 free wildcard : hunter Armstong. He was just as good at NCAAs in the 100 free as the 100 back and we saw what happened last night so….
100 free wildcard: Seliskar

The 100 free is the key event. We will know what dominos need to fall after this event tomorrow.

Really pulling for Alex Walsh, she swims for the same club team I did growing up (still the same coach)-- although she's now got a year of UVa swimming as well. She'd be the first person from my club team to make the Olympics since Tracy Caulkins-- also a 200IMer.

Glad R. Smith made the team, she does seem really anxious. Hope she calms down and swims like she can the rest of the meet.

Men's 200 free, same story as the 400, they all need to be more aggressive on that second 50 I think. I expected a faster first 100 from Farris, Apple, Pieroni. Looks like everyone needs to work on their turns except for Smith.

Hope Annie Lazor doesn't let the 100 get to her, she had a bad finish there and I thought she would be 2nd at 75m. She should be much better at the 200br.

Anyone else feel like they are really trying hard to milk as much Phelps as they can from the broadcast? He's really not that great at broadcasting with his slight speech impediment and doesn't bring the enthusiasm that Rowdy brings. I assume he can't attend the Tokyo Games (unless NBC does hire him as a broadcaster) so they are pushing the cross-promotion with the new Peacock show now rather than later (I can't believe they actually made a short documentary just on the 400 free relay from '08).

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I think the priority is 2nd place finishers over 6 place 100/200 finishers. It's funny, when I was the Athlete's VP for USA Swimming, one of my responsibilities was to review selection procedures - but that was a long time ago, and i don't have them memorized anymore. Never in my wildest dreams during my reviews did I ever thing we'd have to reach this deep down into them to fill the team, haha.

EDIT - according to a comment thread Mitchell is now the lowest selection priority - he may not even make the team afterall:

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

I actually replied to Braden but for some reason it hasn't popped up on that thread. First, I think they are wrong. The lowest priority is the 6th pace finishers in the 100/200. Rule 1.3.4 basically says the selection takes place on 06/20 at 9 PM.


Either way, I should have been more clear:

It is going to take some whacky results for all the alternates not to make it.

Dressel gets a DQ'd, 50 goes to Ervin and that teenager, Adrian, Rooney and Kreuger and Pieroni get 100 free slots (and Rooney doens't get a 100 fly) 200 IM goes to Foster and Lochte, Grothe gets an 800 spot.

I suppose anyone of those things could happen but all of them have to happen for this not to work out.


https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/national-teamdocuments/swi-2020-oly-athlete-pool-amended-6-8-2021---final-clean-version---signed.pdf

Yes - very excited for Alex Walsh and to see the NAC swimcap!!

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Stupid question ahead:

What stipulates that only 26 US swimmers can go to Tokyo? Is it FINA/IOC rules or US Swimming or???

FINA/IOC roster caps.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Well men's 100 free just finished. Not impressive if you ask me, not a guy under 48 but 12 under 49. Adrian was able to stick with Dressel and out touch him. Rooney didn't look good but made semi's (too much up and down in his stroke). Haas and K. Smith not enough speed to make semi's, wonder if Kieran will turn around and swim the 800 now that the 100 is out of the question. Other bigger names like Chadwick and Farris barely make the semifinals.

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Kieran's not on the heat sheets for the 800 - so no chance of that. I would have thought Farris's better chance was the 200 but he didn't even swim it.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

If you didn't ahve seed times to look at the prelims for the 100 was ridiculous. I don't think there has ever been a meet where more than 5 guys have gone under 48 in the 100 (2019 WC 5 guys did it). Looks to me like 6 guys are going to do it tonight. But I more or less agree with Adrian, the result was a LITTLE flat.

I wasn't counting on Brooks Curry being a factor. Good for him.

On the 26 watch list: Smith, Armstrong and Seli are off the wildcard list for the 100 free.

The Trials may or may not be the "fastest meet in the world", but it is definitely the cruelest meet in the world wherein lifetime dreams/goals are crushed by mere hundredths of a second. And when I say "lifetime dreams/goals", I mean that, for at least a substantial portion of serious swimmers, no matter how long they live, they will NEVER have a goal they want more than to make it to the Olympics. Having a loving wife, kids, house, etc, are all well and good, but do not require the same level of commitment.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

USA Open Water Roster? Has the US Open Water team been selected? I can not find a roster online. Thanks. David K

https://swimswam.com/...a-open-water-titles/

Women:

1. Haley Anderson (Olympic rep)
2. Ashley Twichell (Olympic rep)

Men:

1. Jordan Wilimovsky (Olympic rep)

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Thank you!

Open water selections were basically done in 2019 for the US. The slots are allocated by FINA at Worlds. The field at the Olympics is capped at 25 men & 25 Women.

Top 10 at Worlds gets you in.
Host country gets 1 slot.
The remaining 14 slots are being awarded at a race coming up in Portugal. 9 are straight up placing & 5 based on continental representation. The only way for a country to have 2 swimmers is they both have to be top 10 at Worlds.

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___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

Day 4 -

What an interesting night of swimming.

• M100 Free Semi the cream started to rise to the top. As with Grevers, the extra year did Adrian no favors- he's still got one, not great, chance in the 50 left, but the end of an era (much to my wife's chagrin)
• W200 Free Final Madden is having quite a meet. Good for Forde to sneak in to 6th there, and another teen on the team in Sims
• M200 Fly Final Gosh these cats are going to get smoked in Tokyo. Mel Stewart would almost have made the team with a time from 30 years ago
  
• W200 Fly Semi - nice to see some fast times last night. Flickinger continuing her streak of US Dominance, with the teenage contingent charging from behind.
• M200 Br Semi - Who the hell is Matt Fallon? 🤣 Will be curious to see if his back-half dash will hold up against the experience Fink/Lincon/Cordes/Wilson in the final.
• W200 IM Final. Madison Cox cost herself a spot on the Olympic team with 2 AWFUL breaths under the flags to the wall. Seriously, go watch the last 10 meters. 4 Breaths, 2 under the flags. That's practice habits bleeding through at the worst time. Mel Margalis was so awesome though to her, even though she had to be devistated herself. We need to see that semifinal speed from Walsh again in Tokyo, just got a bit tight in the final.
• W1500 Damn. What else is there to say about Katie's dominance? That was just a pedestrian swim from her, and yet no one else was in the frame. Nice best time for Sullivan to make the team in 2nd.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Looking at the results from the 200 Br semis, I realized Cody Miller is way off form. I had to go back and see where he ended up in the 100 too. Bit surprised by that, maybe the dad-life has caught up to him.

being a pro swimmer is hard and my hat is off to Miller for inventing a career for himself. He created a new avenue for swimmers like him - elite swimmers who cannot quite snag a 100K annual sponsor deal because so few exist - to make money.

His VLOG was honest, open and somewhat entertaining. And because he was honest and open, he is now being viscously criticized by swim fans because Cody had the audacity to announce that there was no way he was finishing 8th in the trials.

The Cody hate needs to stop. Kicking a man down is bad. And all that is accomplished is making it harder for the next cycle of swimmers to earn a living this way. All Cody did was say exactly what EVERY Bronze medalist believed going into the Olympic trials. Do people think you get to the top of the mountain by a lacking of confidence? I want honest content. Cody, as it turns out, was wrong. But I love the guy for putting it out there and I hope he stays with the sport.

Looks like the US Open (golf) pushed the prelims broadcast back to 3:30 on NBC’s streaming service. Any other options to watch live?

I always watch prelims live on nbcolympics.com - maybe they have a replay? Or Peacock?

Finals got bumped to NBCSN tonight too from NBC for golf.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

I can’t find the livestream on nbcolympics.com? Just the “upcoming” broadcast at 3pm pacific.

Is there a page I’m missing?

Damn the Golfers.

https://www.nbcolympics.com/replays/sport/swimming


Scroll down to Day 5 Prelims (live). That should be the whole prelims with the arena announcers.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Thanks! I feel like an idiot for having to ask, but it’s worth it to have the broadcast.

No one going to mention the great swims by Andrew and Lochte? I had a good feeling that Michael would be our best hope here, even a gold medal contender. But Ryan, what a nice swim from an old guy that everyone had washed up. I believe that this is the one event that he just loves, is the best in his quiver, and could be his last hurrah. Hope he can pull it together in the finals and get that spot, be a nice bookend to the end of his career..

Yah - I've been so busy with work and kids getting full prelims commentary up has slipped a bit. Solid swim for RL, as we saw in the 100br Andrew has no build into the finals of an event, where most other swimmers look to chip away each round. So - it'll be interesting to see what happens when the field starts coming back to him in semis and finals whether he can hold it together.

Side note - in honor of it being 200IM day - here's me on the left, Lochte in the middle and Alex Vanderkaay on the right in the semi's in 2008


I forgot i bootlegged semi's to youtube too - I'm in the bodysuit and red-striped cap just above Ryan:



Maybe if y'all are good I'll post finals tomorrow too ;)

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Agreed here, I definitely wasn't hating on Cody. I have watched a few of his vlogs and in my head had always seen him making the team based on his racing in the lead-up to trials.

I only commented on this when I noticed his name at the bottom of the 200 breast semis and was surprised. I hadn't realized that he has been getting so much hate online, I don't really follow him or his channel all that often.

Cody takes extra dolphin kicks off the wall that is why he is hated. Its the equivalent to being a doper in my book. Molly Hannis same treatment in swimswam comments for the same reason her kick is borderline illegal

thanks, that makes sense - I couldn't understand the plan behind swimming all the different events..

"Fading hard in your first event's finals "
clearly needs less speed and more endurance work ;-)

ha thank you - I saw a TT swim going on in the background of some NBC commenting, wondered who and what.. good for him !

That was a great time for Andrew, but looked like a dumb swim. You don't win an Olympics berth in the prelims. Blasting a PB 1:56.LOW when a 1:59.MID would have easily got you one of the inside 4 lanes for the semis, was entirely unnecessary. Maybe even immature. Given how tight he looked in the 100 breast final after back-to-back PB's in the prelims and semis, and the fact that he probably has 3 rounds of 100 fly an 50 free to go through yet in this meet, I would have thought he would have approached this with a little more restraint.

Now if he goes 1:55.9 in the semis and mid 1:55's in the finals, I'll retract the "dumb" comment. But Andrew's track record in multi-round 200's doesn't inspire confidence that he won't back-slide from here..

Chase Kalisz demonstrated exactly how a confident veteran approaches a prelims swim. He burned a lot fewer matches in that first round.

I don't know if Lochte can improve from here, but he needed that kind of performance.

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"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"

Holy hell, he uncorked one in the semis. I hope he holds it together enough in the finals to get a spot.

---

"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"

I have my doubts. 100 fly starts tomorrow, so he has prelims of that in the morning. He only has full go in him, and as we saw in the 100 breast it almost bit him in the ass. That swim was fast tonight, but coming home in 30. ?? OUCH. Gonna take a lot to flush the legs of that swim.

May he prove me wrong.

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

He's always dreadful on the free leg, though.

---

"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"

Holy hell, he uncorked one in the semis. I hope he holds it together enough in the finals to get a spot.
//

Well you still have one more heat of this to be right, hope you are not though. Dude was 1.2 seconds ahead of Lochte's stratospheric record going into the last 50. I suppose for all we know, he did shut it down with a lackluster last 50. I always thought that record would stand for a very long time, but all he has to do is just bring it home reasonably with that kind of front 3x50 speed. But no surprise, dude is probably top 4 or so in the world in the 50 of each and every stroke. And now his is showing that he is final material in all of the 100's too, while thus far surprising us with his AR breastroke swim.


Still hoping Lochte can pull it out in the final though, gonna take a 1;56+ I bet...

Forgot to add that our 4x100 relay is looking a lot better now. We have the guy in 6th with a PR of 47.39, so coaches will have their work cut out for them when picking A and B teams at the games. Provided all 6 get to go of course, not sure how it is looking on the numbers front. But has to help that several are qualifying for 2, maybe 3 events. Unlike the 200 where 6th will be getting left out because of Caleb, Held should be making this trip.

I see Apple and Pieroni will both be available for both relays too if they can reach down to 6th in the 100, so some cross over there for coaches to use. Looks like Patrick Callan may be the one left off the roster getting 6th in the 200, and 7th(Blake) will now be a fill in if needed by virtue of the 100 results...More crossover will be good, just challenging for choosing who swims where.

Amazing time from MA tonight, but not a well-swum race. From -1.2 under WR pace to +1.3 in the final 50M. But hey, no one else in the field looks like they are capable of sub-1:56 so IF he can hold, it's his spot. He looked really tight on the free leg, no extension in his arms at all. I think if a couple of guys gamble hard and push him from the start he might crumble (I think if Smith and Kalisz push him there is no way Andrew can match them on the last leg). He benefitted from not being the 100 free final tonight, but (should) be in the 100 fly semi tomorrow-- it will be after the 200IM but might be on his mind. For all his defense of his training style, he still fades at the end and needs to at least go to a training camp under one of the master coaches out there who consistently produce swimmers at all distances (I'm thinking Bowman, Durden, Marsh, Troy, and now Nesty gets to own the University of Freestyle with Smith's and Finke's results so far).

Lochte might have a shot, but he still doesn't look in shape like he did 4 years ago. He might be working hard in the pool but isn't working hard enough with nutrition, he needs to get some notes from Matt Grevers on diet. He's going to have to go out hard and hope some adrenaline can carry him home. Lochte needs to probably change his sights and maybe do ISL this fall if he wants to continue to make money from swimming. He still has the talent/speed to be a good addition to a team, is versatile and can swim a lot of events including relays, but I don't know if he would want to leave (or move) his kids for that long.

Awesome swim by Flickinger, that lady has some brick house shoulders.

Speaking of shoulders, Ryan Murphy looks like Captain America and is absolutely toying with everyone else in the field.

I feel bad for Simone Manuel. Not sure the cause of her missed training but it sucks to come unprepared. I hope Smoliga makes the team again, she'll be a good veteran to have around since it looks like some others like Margalis, Dahlia, Manuel and some others won't be back.

Good swims by Dressel and ZApple. Can you believe we had to wait until day 5 for Dressel to officially be on the team?

Been noticing swim caps/ teams that are showing up a lot. Very impressive showing from Georgia, and as a Gator that hurts to say. They seem to always have two people side by side or in the same heat going 1-2. Florida, Georgia, Texas, Cal, with Indiana showing up in some high profile races are clearly getting some recruiting benefit (I think Georgia's cheating since their black caps tend to blend with a lot of other black caps).

Based on the 100 free, Held looks like the guy to challenge Dressel in the 50, but then again the 50 can go weird fast.

---

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He's always dreadful on the free leg, though.//

Well he at least is not going to watch the final like Simone Manual, she is going to have nightmares about that soft swim..Question for those in the know, would she be eligible for the 4x100 relay anyway?? If you are on the team in another event, are you automatically eligible to swim a relay you didn't qualify for?

He's scratched the 100 fly. Probably a wise choice. He had a shot to qualify in that event, but he clearly (and rightly) see himself as a gold medal contender in the 200IM. The schedule at Tokyo is the same as trials, so he'd be facing a possible 200IM final/100fly semifinal double if he did qualify. This seems like an uncharacteristically rational programming decision from his camp.


People have been saying for years he needs to train distance to help close the 200IM better, myself included. Maybe that's dated thinking. He's gone at this a different way; getting faster and faster on the first 3 legs, seemingly content just to avoid drowning on the last leg. And the aggregate results are hard to argue with. Does it really matter how you split your way to a 1:55.LOW? That wasn't just the fastest time in the world this year, that was the fastest time in the world since 2016. I pray he holds it together enough tomorrow to qualify.

---

"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"

Everyone on the team is eligible for any relay. Manuel has to make it in the 50. Rowdy mentioned it, I saw it, her breathing was terrible. She is out of shape. Plainly. She was soundly beaten off the blocks. I don’t see much hope for the 50.

MA didn’t crude to the wall. He totally locked up. The flags in were bad. When you shut it down you get longer, he got really short.

Same with Lochte. But one thing I’ll say that gives him a chance: he will benefit more from the morning off than any of these 20 somethings. He looked stronger but sloppier last night. Especially in fly. He was smooth in prelims, let’s see if he can do strong and smooth one more time…

Pinfold - a local guy here - missed the team by .01 The last time I remember that happening was Neil Walker in 1996. Also 7th in the 100. Difference is Pinfold is 26 and selling houses for a living (walker was a sophomore at Texas and won 2 spots at 2000 trials).

Finke in control the whole way, interesting race form second, and a big charge at the end to take it

Man heartbreak for Licon - missed last 2 Olympic teams in this event by a combined 0.32 seconds - brutal

W100 free semi - sucks for Simone, seems as if she had some medical issues this spring that really impacted her training: https://www.si.com/...vertraining-syndrome Buncha meh there, 53's are fine i guess, but without Simone's proven 52 power, the relay is going to be tough

M200 bk semi - Murphy and everyone else. Casas has been a bit of a disappointment, but I think Katz still snags the second spot.

Good race, and good times.


Caleb's on form and ready to roll I'd say. Apple right on his best. Curry only got his cut 2 months ago and is now on the Olympic team. Hopefully Held rounds into form, they'll need every second they can get. Also a former Wisconsin Badger swimmer Brett Pinfold who took a couple years out of the sport barely missed the 6th spot by .01

W200 br semis really seems like Lilly and Lazor here, right on track.

M200 IM semi. Andrew swims this like nobody else in the world, that's for sure. I have to think with the pressure off to make the team, he keeps pushing the front 150 and hangs on enough to make the team. Kalisz the veteran for 2nd

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Re: 200 fly...I wonder if the long term dominance of Phelps in that event effectively left a vacuum.

---

"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

He got DQ'd once for that...watching him swim the last few days, I didn't see anything illegal in his underwaters.

---

"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

I would have that youtube video playing on a nonstop loop on a big screen in my house if I were you. Did you make semis or finals that year or ever break 2:00?

Haha, thanks. That video is from semis in ‘08. Made finals, finished 4th (8th place finish at trials in ‘04). 2:00.0uggggh was my best time in finals. I’ll post the finals video later today.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

MA didn’t crude to the wall. He totally locked up. The flags in were bad. When you shut it down you get longer, he got really short. //

We have to keep his swims in perspective though. He goes out so fast that he sets up this horrible last 50, but it is sooooo fast. He basically takes everyone out in the fly leg, and then even tired he will crush the breast. His real dilemma is to find that sweet spot where he can come home in 28+. When you go out 1.2 faster than Lochte's WR, hard to imagine not imploding the last 50. Maybe just .6 faster and he gets that record, who knows. Right now I just want him to make that event, and then let some other coaches figure out his pacing strategies. I'm not sure it is an endurance problem at all, just a pacing one.

Man that first heat of the mens 100 fly was smoking. Great to see Tom Shields up there in contention, but looks like it is going to take a mid 51+ to make the final. Caleb just threw down a super impressive first heat time, one that would win the thing in two more heats for sure. Definitely going 49 mid somewhere before this thing is done. Glad Andrew withdrew, he is just not ready to do this many swims without knowing how to hold back a bit. Gonna make that 200IM even more exciting now that he will be fresh..

https://swimswam.com/...ication-to-no-avail/

He has been DQ’d at least 4 times at major meets. I hope he retires

Edit that doesn’t count all the times he cheated and got away with it. It’s an underwater thing that is difficult to call standing on the deck

The whole 2nd dolphin kick is kind of funny given that the one dolphin kick rule was adopted because a lot of swimmers were doing one dolphin kick back when zero dolphin kicks were allowed. Slippery slope. Seems like it would be easier to judge if the dolphin kick had to be simultaneous with the pull.

The evolution of both backstroke and breaststroke seems to me mostly letting the difficult to enforce things allowed to be.
Can't tell if someone is turning on their back? Let them swim freestyle.
Can't tell if someone does a dolphin kick? Let them.

I think there are a few more that I can't remember.

As far as the schedule, it's not quite the same as Tokyo. In Tokyo finals will be in the morning. This is to please NBC.
Here at trials, finals are at night.
This is reversed. Swimmers doing prelims for one event and finals in another will swim in a different order.
I think trials should match Oly's exactly. Once again pleasing NBC.

So much plugging of Phelps and Lochte at these trials. One isn't swimming and one isn't swimming well. Funny, both have shows on Peacock.

Agree that they’ve made a lot of rule changes in BK and BR and the advances in underwaters make it hard to compare times to my era (late 1970s). Distance freestyle has been least effected by rule changes and underwaters, and while has seen steady improvement in times the improvement not as dramatic as the sprints.

Hoping Smoliga goes top 2 in 100 FR

Three things

One, Slowtwitch, please make a “post” button so we don’t have to “reply” to someone.

Two I’m so stoked for this 200IM

Three, same discussion we have every Olympic cycle...would swimmers prefer to do trials in like...March? So they have time to build and taper again? 5 weeks seems too close.

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"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

Distance freestyle has been least effected by rule changes and underwaters, and while has seen steady improvement in times the improvement not as dramatic as the sprints. //

Having watched the turn develop since its inception(like you have) and trying to actually swim it as an old man, it is apparent that it is just too anaerobic for distance free. However what I have noticed is that in the beginning it was the 50/100, then later guys in the 200 adopted it. Now you see it in the 500 too, so perhaps it is just a matter of time before it hits the 1500/1650. I did see Katie doing it in her longer races, but dont recall if she did it in the 1500 or not, have to rewatch that one. It s just that it was a cruise for her, so she may have not swam it like she would trying to set a new WR..


Glad that the 200 breast did not slip away from Lily, really think under the right circumstances that she could really put one out there..

Re trials in March: nope nope nope. Too close on the back of college swimming. The last time we had a spring trials it was baaaaad. 5 weeks works so well in fact other countries (ie Australia, France) have changed to match the US window to try and find that magic. 5 weeks allows 2 weeks to go back up and 3 to come down again. Keep the team together so no one can lose form after making the team. Plus, for much of the team it’s a repeat of the conference/ncaa separation.

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

You’re right, it’s obviously working, and it does mimic the typical NCAA schedule. I didn’t mean March persay, but maybe a little more room. But I suppose it’s easier to stay at the tippy top for a shorter amount of time. Just always seemed like a close shave with the travel and all, too.

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"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

Alright doing this from my phone so no fancy picks updates.

-200 br man I’m not one for the sappy NBC stories but the one about Lazor and King got to me. Got a bit dusty at the finish there.

-200 bk. Murphy looks so smooth and in control. Nice swim for meffors. Hopefully Cassas can grow from this meet. I like his stroke, but he showed his inexperience in both the 100 and 200

-200bk. Gonna be a barn burner tonight between bacon and smith. Excited for a Badger to make the team hopefully.

-200 IM. MA did his thing and Kalisz did his. I expected more from Lochte coming into the meet, but after that 200 free and his gut hanging over the top of his suit, I wrote off that hope.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Casas was a disappointment I thought he would be the next big thing.

Women’s 100free really in a sad state for USA.

Pulling for Shields tonight it’s weird how the competition in the 100 fly suddenly disappeared

Swimswam pickem im in the top 30 out of over 1000 one bad day 1 score away from the top places

Ah yeah. Missed the 100 free. Maybe I just wanted to block it out. An individual finals swim will be a surprise. Relay on the podium will be a long shot.

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Dressel making that 50 look easy.

---

"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

And Ervin fails to advance to the semis, placing 23rd in 22.61, but on the bright side, that may be the WR for the 40-44 AG. There were 4 guys at 21.XX and then 44 at 22.XX. In the women's, Simone looking better than in the 100, Q'ing 2nd at 24.56.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Oh man- more spicyness on team selection. Looks like unless Held makes the team in the 50 he’s not going to make it as a 4x100 alternate. Limit of 12 relay only swimmers.

https://swimswam.com/...am-now-there-are-13/

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

Had to look it up 23.25 for 40-44 is the World Record.
Was this a USMS sanctioned meet? lol

I don't think it will be Held who gets left out, since it's based on world rankings. His 100 time from this year is pretty high up there compared to some. It's hard to tell because neither the FINA site nor USA swimming seems to be complete or 100% up to date. Held did go a 48.07 at this meet, which is faster than the other 3 relay-only 100 free guys went. I think Callan would be first on the cut list, since Pieroni was only a tenth behind him in the 200 and could then swim both free relays.
I hope they all get to go, it's got to be the worst feeling when there are enough folks qualified for multiple swims to get those 5th and 6th places only to have it yanked due to this rule.

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I wonder when the last time this was an issue for the USA, definitely pre Phelps.

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"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

Plot twist i'm 9th in the pickem contest. I have Bella Sims getting 2nd tonight. Tom Shields getting 2nd and tomorrow I have Jordan Willamovky getting 3rd. The 50 frees are a total crapshoot with everyones picks still live but if those 3 swimmers finish in those exact places I have a pretty good shot to over take the leaders. I guess I would have keep someone else from leap frogging over me who knows.

Unfortunately it’s based on time at trials, not time for the year for the modified world rankings. They either need Sims or Held to pick up an individual spot (Smoliga or Hinds are longer shots IMHO)

---

I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

As much as I would like Adrian to make the team, probably best from a numbers perspective if Michael takes that 2nd 50 spot. All things point that way as of now, but hard not to root for him and Simone to get in on the thinnest of margins in the 50..

In my mind, 22.61 will be the record but actually I'm pretty sure that the USMS/FINA rules require that Masters records have to be set in Masters meets, i.e. times in "open", all-comers meets do not count. Otherwise, I guess Phelps, Lochte, and several others would have many of the records in the younger AGs. :)

---

"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Well looks like Regan Smith just let another spot go on the team, and she won't be swimming the event she holds the WR in. Super stoked for Tom Shields, and probably pretty glad Michael Andrew scratched this event. Funny thing about Tom, just saw all the all time records for the Huntington Beach pier swim I just did, and he holds the overall record back from 2009 still. I believe he was a Huntington kid growing up, so good to see at least one more of the older guard making this brutal cut..

And in another fairly shocking plot twist, Regan Smith, WR holder in the 200 back, fails to Q in the 200 BK, coming in 3rd in the final. This after her Q'ing the 200 fly, which was somewhat unexpected IMO. She also Q'd in the 100 BK so at least she has one BK event, plus of course the med relay.

---

"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Great evening session.

Cheering ultra hard for Adrian and Manuel tomorrow! Great 800 free. Would have loved to see Anderson make it in a “second sport,” but cool to see a 15 year old go second to Ledecky.

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"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

Adding the women's 1500 & men's 800 without expanding the roster limit makes it more of a crap shoot for those 5th and 6th relay qualifiers. Part of the reason the men's situation is still up in the air is that the 1500 is last day. You would expect at least one of the 800 qualifiers to double up, but one never knows.

The bigger problem for Held than the roster cap of 26 men is the 12 swimmer cap on relay-only swimmers, M & W combined. There's relatively little crossover between the top 6 in both the men's and women's 100 and 200 freestyles, and relatively few of the 3-6 finishers have an individual spot. So even if 3 slots tonight in the men's 1500 and 50 go to someone who's already qualified (pretty likely with the top two qualifiers in each event already having qualified in another event), he also needs one of the two current relay-only qualifiers swimming in the finals tonight to get an individual slot. It's pretty unlikely. It's more likely we go to Tokyo with only 25 men.



That was quite the shocking result. I was expecting her to blast home the last 50 like she did in the semis, but it was apparent within 3 strokes of the breakout that the extra gear just wasn't there. Maybe 3 rounds of 200 fly took more out of her than she thought it would?

She still has a pretty good shot at 4 medals (Probably gets at least a prelims swim in the Mixed Medley Relay), although it sucks that she's not in the individual event she would have seemed to have the best chance of winning. Maybe she'll uncork something special in the 200 fly?

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"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"

Yeah that’s a big meet schedule for a young swimmer. She just looked gassed that last 50 of her 200 back.

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"The person on top of the mountain didn't fall there." - unkown

also rule 5

The other shocking result that AFAIK has not been discussed is that Dean Farris, 200 yd free AR holder at 1:29.15, apparently did not make the team in any events. For some unknown reason, he chose not to swim the 200 free but rather swam the 50/100 free and 100 back, and did not Q in any of the three. I wonder if there is any obscure rule that would allow him to swim a solo time trial in the 200 free to try to make the top 5 or 6 or however many 200 free swimmers they end up including on the team???

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

I wonder if there is any obscure rule that would allow him to swim a solo time trial in the 200 free to try to make the top 5 or 6 or however many 200 free swimmers they end up including on the team??? //

No way that happens, he chose not to swim that race for whatever reason. Could you imagine swimmers coming in after the fact and asking to swim events they did not enter? Looking at his form, we are not going to be missing anything anyway, lots of great swimmers for the 200 as it is. Hard part is going to try and figure out who swims A and B teams. Caleb is going to bump one of those top 4 in the 200 off the A team, and perhaps a full rearranging of 3rd through 6th, or 7th?

Concur about Farris he basically had a dismal meet. However a lot of these guys are stellar at short course and not so much at long course. Casas is another one —lots of people expected him to make the team but I guess short course is more his thing. On the other hand it’s really tough when just two spots are available.

Ya, I kind of figured this was the case. I was just thinking of Jake Mitchell's solo TT in the 400 free but that was obv a very special case b/c he did not go under the FINA A cut standard in the 400 final.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Ya maybe Farris is just better at short course, at least for now. Maybe he can can improve his long course game over next 3 yrs and make the '24 team.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Farris swam well in long course in 2019. Don’t know what happened, but some of these “older” swimmers seemed hurt more by the 1 year delay. Not sure Farris will hang around for another 3 years, as the pro swimming life seems pretty boring/marginal if your not clearly top 10 in world and on an improvement trajectory.

Yeah, this was great. I wonder if Grimes can pull a Ledecky (2012) in Tokyo? :)

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I only swim.
I used to run. (31:09 10k)
I never did Triathlon.
Sue me.

Totally bizarre trials after the huge disruption of 2020. Lots of unexpected busts and unforeseen triumphs. Stanford's entire training group is looking very off. Virginia's group is in tip-top shape. Indiana's group is very mixed. I expected Claire Curzan to have a huge breakout, she made the team but has not been swimming very well for her. Regan Smith looks well off her best and swam way too much butterfly. Gretchen Walsh, who is an amazing talent, had an awful meet. There are unexpectedly slooow times in many events, most notably both the M and W 200 free. I'd like to know how many of these swimmers actually tapered. I'll bet mainstays like Dressel, Ledecky, Kalisz and Murphy didn't taper much if at all. I'll bet others like Zach Apple and Tom Shields are fully tapered. I'm not sure if MA ever "tapers". Who would have picked Hunter Armstrong? How about Katie Grimes? Rhyan White? Bryce Mefford? Emma Weyant?

The other question: did the Aussies fully taper for their Trials? What will they look like in Tokyo?

It's gonna be a weird Olympics. 2024 should be equally interesting.

Tonight‘s session is now live on CNBC due to golf running long. 👎🏼

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Well mens 50 went exactly as I had thought, not even close. It just isn't in Adrian anymore to swim as fast as those guys, but good for the US. Simone finally had a decent swim, so now the relay coaches heads will be spinning all over the place. I would imagine there will be some trial swims just before the games to see who pitches up on all those women and mixed relays. Somehow you have to see if Simone is still 52 100 swimmer, because now her one and only event is last. I'm thinking she maybe gets a prelim swim on the 4x100W, but the mixed relays, how do you leave off the top 2 ladies in the 100? I suppose a good problem to have for sure, just how to go about sussing it out..

Really great swim by Fink, now a medal contender. I was really worried about this event for us, but he split this perfect, 10 seconds under the first half, then 4 more the 2nd. At that speed he will certainly have the opportunity to have a draft in the finals, which could pull him close to the American record, and a medal...

Ya, I saw in his Swimswam bio where he went 1:46.45 in 2019, which would have tied him for 5th with Zach Apple in the final. The real question IMO is why did he not swim the 200 at the Trials??? Just kind of boggles my mind. Also, he's only 22-ish so not really "old" per se in the current swimming world.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

McIntosh making the FINA cut back in May in the 400. 1:56.19 in the 200 yesterday to officially make the team. She turns 15 Aug 18th.

Her mom Jill Horstead made the 84 team at 17, 9th in 200 Fly

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___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

I've always thought he seemed like a flighty dude - one of the types who does best when not pushed too hard. Bounces back and forth between Harvard and Texas. I'd be shocked if he continues. Maybe ISL this fall, but beyond that i have a hard time seeing him continue on. Pure speculation on my part of course.

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

I wouldn't call him flighty.
He took a year off from Harvard to train with Texas pro swimmers to get ready for trials and then Covid hits and pushes everything back a year. Then he returns to school, and Ivy League cancels all athletics for 20-21.

Seeing him in practice, he looked very fast.

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I swim fast because I'm afraid of sharks.

So, he's got one more year of NCAA eligibility, right??? Then he could do 2 yrs of pro swimming and shoot for the '24 Trials. At least that's what I would do.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Watched the men’s 1500 last night and Finke was impressive. The rest of the field, not so much. I looked at results and saw it took a 15:26 to get in top 8. Went back and looked at 1976 trials and saw it took a 15:37 to be top 8. What’s happened to American distance swimming?

On a related note, also watched men’s 10,000 meters on the track and saw the top guy run 27:53 and a few others dip under 28:00. Went back and looked at 1976 trials and saw Frank Shorter ran a 27:55 I know it’s a now a more tactical race on the track, but thought there’d be more improvement over 45 years.

OK, end of the old man rant.

Yes he has one year of eligibility left

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I swim fast because I'm afraid of sharks.

Went back and looked at 1976 trials and saw it took a 15:37 to be top 8. What’s happened to American distance swimming?

Like you I have some faint memories of the US dominating the distance free events, hell I was in the same High school district as the fastest two guys in the world in 1972 to 76. So I had a look back and starting with Buster Crabbe( who I got to meet and have a nice chat with before he died, and the first Tarzan!) we have won a medal in the 1500 from 1928 to 1984 unbroken(except for boycott year in 80) Many of those years we took two of the 3 medals, getting gold 6 times. We did just as well in the 400 too during that timeframe, then right after it all fell apart for US distance swimming. We have had the odd guy podium here and there, but nothing like it was when you. and I were in school watching this stuff.


Fun to see our buddy Gary Hall SR in those results too, think a lot here dont know about his prowess from way back when. Most likely some form of marketing killed it, all the talent went to the shorter sexy events, and the relays. After Spitz and his 7 gold, pretty hard to get noticed doing one event. Then we get Phelps and Lochte, and whole bunch of women who also crush many shorter events, and the die is cast for the next generations. We did have Janet Evans, but that didn't pull the talented ladies to distance, until we now have Kate Ledecky. Maybe she can make it sexy to go long again, at least for the women.


And the other big factor is college swimming, you have to develop swimmers that can do lots of short events back to back. Having that great 1000 swimmer just doesnt net you enough points, and that person usually doesnt swim on any relays either. SO there is most likely a coaches bias to develop talented swimmers into the 200's and under...


Maybe we just need another Tim Shaw and Brian Goddell battle. The two best guys in the world swimming high school in the same section, upping the whole worlds game..

Just a reminder that Connor Jaeger got Silver in RIO 2016 with an American Record during that race of 14:39.48 and 4th was Jordan Willimovsky (USA) in 14:45.03

So Italy got 1st and 3rd and USA got 2nd and 4th in 1500m. People tend to focus on big names MP, Ledecky, Lochte and Nathan forgetting that there’s more to that US 🇺🇸 Swimming Team.

Unfortunately I have to find another country to pull for because of all the florida gators we're trotting out

Thanks for a great thread!

I like the idea of tagging on some Canadian trials results here too (since we sprinkled in the top Australians too).... other notable swims (other than the video you linked!)

- Brent Hayden making his 4th Olympics in the 50 free (coming out of a multi-year retirement after London!) with a 21.82
- Kylie Masse with another 100 Bk Canadian record - 57.70

Summer is quite the young swimmer; I would 4:05 is close to the 13-14 record.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

It's a classic battle there I would think. Hayden is like 60 years old vs the Cinderella kid, locked-and-loaded Liendo.
Liendo, just popped a Canadian 100 fly record. Kid's a beast.
And who gets it... Hayden gets it!
1 Hayden, Brent 83 HPCVN 22.09 21.82A r:+0.75 2 Liendo, Joshua 02 NYAC 22.01 21.90A

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Training Tweets: https://twitter.com/Jagersport_com
FM Sports: http://fluidmotionsports.com

Hmmm, well, Kieran Smith won the men's 400 free at this year's Trials in 3:44.66. Meanwhile in Aussie World...

Elijah Winnington defeated a loaded field in the men’s 400 free in a lifetime best of 3:42.65, taking over the top time in the world this season. In fact, the top three times in the world rankings were produced in that final, with Jack McLoughlin (3:43.27) second and 2016 Olympic champion Mack Horton (3:43.90) locked out in third.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

It looks like this has now filtered down even to mid-D free, as the U.S. men may be lucky just to get a bronze in the 4 x 200 free relay. Currently, Swimswam has the U.S. pegged for 4th: https://swimswam.com/...ns-4x200-free-relay/

I can't recall the U.S. men ever finishing any where below 2nd in this relay, but I have not gone back and looked at all the past Oly Games.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

I'm not too worried about that really just yet, they dont even have Caleb on the list. My guess we will be fighting for the gold with one, maybe two other teams, and Caleb will drop a 1;42 or so to take it. Or they will lead off with him to take the lead right away, and then challenge everyone else to put up lifetime bests. That is usually how it goes for us, but anything can happen.

We will also have the luxury of resting many on that relay in prelims. I wouldn't be surprised if Andrew doesn't swim a leg somewhere if he does a tt before hand. But still have a ton of guys that can get a qualifying time done in the morning, letting guys like Caleb just step in and bomb one really fast swim...

Also - US teams have a track record of improving to the games, where many other teams....don't.... There are a bunch of newbies around, as well as many other countries have moved their trials closer to the timing of the US trials so history may not hold as much sway, but for all the meets we've been predicting doom and gloom the Stars and Stripes have shone through.

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I wrote this, you should read it:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/...n_Swimming_6700.html

And it is funny to me that SwimSwam does not take Caleb into their calculations. Every single one of us knows he is going to be on that relay, so why do they just dismiss him? Maybe to drum up a little more drama, but our A team will probably not look anything like what they posted up in their predictions..