Flirting with disaster, defending gold medalist Nathan Adrian of the USA just barely made it out of the preliminary round of the men’s 100 free Tuesday morning. Adrian finished 16th with a time of 48.58, just 0.03 seconds ahead of 17th place and elimination from the event which he won in 2012.
In London, he had the fastest time in the heats, registering a 48.19. He then dipped under 48 in the semis, touching in 47.97, second behind Aussie star James Magnussen‘s 47.63. In a legendary final, Adrian then clipped “The Missile” 47.52 to 47.63.
Speaking after this morning’s race, Adrian put a positive on the race, saying, “It was alright, feeling a little rusty this morning, trying to get back into the meet after a pretty late night the other night. It doesn’t affect anything really, you’re swimming for a lane, and tonight is going to be the same thing, we’re swimming for a lane. Actually, I’m pretty happy to get an outside lane, it’s always nice to get a little clean water, so looking forward to it tonight.”
At least two other medal contenders also were toward the rear of the pack this morning. Italy’s Luca Dotto placed 10th, with a 48.47. Defending world champion Ning Zetao of China was just ahead of Adrian, tying for 14th with a 48.57.
It’s worth noting that Adrian’s time from this morning would have placed him 8th in the heats in 2012, where it took “only” a 48.99 to advance to semifinals.
This morning, by that margin of 0.03, Adrian avoided, at least for another round, becoming yet another London champion who failed to make finals of their gold medal event here in Rio.
On Sunday, France’s Yannick Agnel finished 19th in the prelims of the 200 free, four years after blasting the fastest textile time ever in that event. China’s Ye Shiwen finished 27th in the 400 IM, then watched the final as Katinka Hosszu took down the world record she set en route to a gold medal in 2012. Although her gold medals came in different events, Missy Franklin also failed to make the final of the 200 free, an event where she finished 4th in 2012.
I know this is off topic, but is anyone else frustrated over how LONG it’s taking NBC to put up the swimming TIMES??? Why can’t they post the times immediately at the bottom 1/4 of the screen? Don’t get me wrong, I like seeing the swimmer’s response, but PUT UP THE TIMES! Ok, I feel better. Thank you for your time (pun intended).
I always thought the favorite gets a big lead and then shuts down into the wall. Isnt that how you cruise a prelim heat. Whose idea was it to spot a circle seeded heat the lead and then try to play catch up in a sprint race? It will be a good video to replay to TeamUSA meet for the next 20 or 30 years or until some USA star makes the same mistake and misses.
Cam McEvoy shut it down and was half a second better than Adrian
He didn’t shut it down he cruised the first 50 and then built into the last 20 meters if you watched the race he went by people the last -15-20 meters that’s not shutting it down. I agree he didn’t put his all into the swim but definetly didn’t SHUT it down.
Dan and Rowdy called it wrong at first, said he was 17th. My stomach dropped. It’s embarrassing to admit, as it’s just a sport, but it felt like I was seeing a genuine tragedy unfold. Glad he squeaked in, but I am entirely too young to have a heart attack, so let’s hope that doesn’t happen again.
We all know Nathan is better than that swim. If by using no other evidence than the 4×100 two days ago. It was just an off swim. But, one that he can’t afford again.
See…47.83. LIKE A BOSS.
This year has truly heralded “the changing of the guard” in regards to many veteran champion swimmers around the world. Adrian just avoided joining that club.
Easy does it… For some reason, 46.9 is still ringing in my head. I’d put good money on him making the final tonight.
Always liked Nathan. Hope things go better next swim.
Stravius doesn’t make it. Heartbroken. France is having a terrible Olympics. All the hopes remain in Manaudou now.
Perhaps Metella in the fly for bronze, but an outside shot.
Metella in 100 fly?
Let me see:
Phelps, Le Clos, Cseh, Schooling, Shields.
hmm.. don’t think so.
He’s swimming well here but he’s really a dark horse. It’d be an upset. Fingers crossed.
“Perhaps Metella in the fly for bronze, but an outside shot.”
This isn’t a prediction, so I will clear it up. You should infer that I implied that the best Metella could hope for was bronze, and that was not a given. Thanks for the reminder of names that I already knew would be major contenders. I’ll add a couple more: Shields, Czerniak.
Since I responded to a comment about the French having a bad meet (see above), I basically said that Slab was right. Manaudou is really the only legitimate shot for a medal, the only other slight possibility being Metella. I wrote that because I saw that Metella came into the Olympics with the 7th best… Read more »
I am loving this.
I hope Manaudou get beaten in 50 free and France will come home with zero gold.
Snobbery is finally brought down to earth.
The fall of French swimming is spectacular.
Manadou looked pretty amazing in that relay… He’s a stone-cold killer in the 50 and it’s a huge mistake to bet against him.
I’m not betting against him.
I’m hoping he gets beaten.
I want Manaudou to lose not because I don’t want to French to win gold, but because I want Ervin to win SO BADLY.
France is having a terrible year — not just swimming.
yeah, let’s not talk about that …
That was some extreme playing possum. Adrian just had no idea where he was. Didn’t see Dressel breathing to his right ad likely didn’t see the other outside lane. Man was he lucky this time.
Rowdy? Is that you?
Dude knew he was behind.