Video produced by Coleman Hodges.
Reported by Karl Ortegon.
It’s Michael Phelps‘ first finals session back since his suspension, and took the event with a 52.38, winning by a good margin. That time puts him just behind Tim Phillips in the world rankings at 21st. Ryan Lochte grabbed 2nd (53.11) touching out Tom Shields(53.18). Phillips finished in fourth place (53.54) ahead of Matthew Josa (53.67) and Alex Coci (53.79). All competitors dipped below 54.5, as Eugene Godsoe (54.08) and Marcus Schlesinger (54.33) rounded out the stacked final.
Get More SwimSwam with SwimSwam Magazine
SwimSwam Magazines are big, coming in at nearly a pound per issue. We provide you four massive print issues designed to sit on your coffee table like a piece of artwork. With your yearly subscription, you receive over 600 of pages of swimming’s highest quality print content, and another 5,330+ pages of digital issues, going back to the first issue produced.
Cant wait for MP to DROP THE MIC on the world again…
He can swim in a tutu for all the world cares, he’s the greatest and we about to see him in his best physical age, late 20s. Dis gonna be good.
I think just the fact that he performed a good turn and didn’t glide into the finish makes me happy, because those are things he hasn’t done consistently for a LONG time!
Hank, I didn’t expect crazy fast times from MP this week. That’s his first meet since Pan Pacs. And more important, he trains hard again. So he doesn’t swim as fresh as the last few years in-season. And the fact he admits he trains again for the 200 fly is another proof of that. MP and Allison Schmitt will not swim “wow” times at the Grand Prix meets this season and next season but when it will count, they will deliver.
21st in the world rankings in the event he holds the WR does not sound great but unrested unshaved and first meet back with a W is alright!
You have to keep in mind that a lot of countries are either having or just had their worlds trials, so obviously 52.3 will not be at the top of the list.
Why all the the focus (or consternation) over World Rankings? The rankings (for Team USA) mean almost nothing right now. Almost every other country just had WC-Trials or Nationals in the last month. This is an April meet with very few top college swimmers even present. I’m looking for fast times from Team USA in August – not April.
Greaaaaaat.