By qualifying for the 200 butterfly final Michael Phelps becomes the first swimmer to make the Olympic final in the same event in five consecutive Games. Phelps made his first 200 butterfly final at the age of 15 finishing fifth at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. He went on to win the event at the 2004 and 2008 Games. At 2012 Olympics in London South African Chad le Clos swam an unbelievable race orchestrating one of the biggest upsets in Olympic swimming history beating Phelps to the wall by five one-hundredths of a second.
Phelps will have his chance at revenge tomorrow evening as he will face le Clos along with another familiar foe Hungarian Laszlo Cseh, who won the silver in the event in 2008. Cseh came into Rio with the world’s top time of 1:52.91.
All three men will have to contend with Hungarian Tamas Kenderesi who posted the fastest time in the semi-finals.
Phelps now separates himself from two other athletes, Australian Leisel Jones and Japanese legend Kosuke Kitajima, who qualified for the Olympic final in the same event at four straight Games.
Jones made the women’s 100 breaststroke final in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. She finished second in 2000, third in 2004, first in 2008 and fifth in 2012.
Kitajima made the men’s 100 breaststroke final in the same years finishing fourth in 2000, first in 2004 and 2008 and fifth in 2012.
Van den Hoogenband also made 4 finals, in the 100 free. All of them made top 5 each time.
54.5 59.6
He’s fine.
I agree. There’s nothing wrong with him. He is good enough for a bronze.
oh wonder..
Almost thought Phelps was going 1:52 till the 150 mark he really faded. Hopefully recovers well tomorrow.
To me it looked like he shut it down. No need to go 1:52 in a semi
wut? he didnt fade at all. he would have had to swim under 28.6 or so to go 1.52. maybe you confuse some splits?
*on the last 50
you’re right , i checked video again. Looks like the monster will unleash tomorrow.