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Here are some allegations made by previous olympic medallist, Maddie Groves, who has withdrawn from Oly trials in OZ: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

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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)

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

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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)

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.

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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)

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.

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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)

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...

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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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