Hali Flickinger Takes 200 Fly Title, Breaks U.S. Open Record with 2:05.85

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

After likely making the Olympic Team by virtue of finishing 2nd in the women’s 400 IM earlier in the week, Hali Flickinger officially punched her ticket to Tokyo tonight, winning the women’s 200 fly. Flickinger swam her race well, hanging back while Regan Smith pushed the pace early. She evened things up at the halfway point, and really pulled away on the final 50, roaring to a new personal best of 2:05.85.

The swim was not only a lifetime best for Flickinger, it also broke her own U.S. Open Record, which had stood for almost 3 years. The previous record was 2:05.87, which was also Flickinger’s previous best, and she swam it at 2018 Summer Nationals.

Here is a split comparison between Flickinger’s 2:05.85 tonight, and her 2:05.87 previous best:

Split Hali Flickinger, 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials – Final Hali Flickinger, 2018 Summer Nationals
50m 28.28 28.69
100m 31.70 31.44
150m 32.75 32.59
200m 33.12 33.15
Final Time 2:05.85 2:05.87

Interestingly, Flickinger was faster on the first and last 50s tonight than in 2018, and slower on the 2nd and 3rd 50s. Something of note from watching the race is that Regan Smith‘s underwaters were far superior to Flickinger, so that maybe an area of improvement coach Bob Bowman targets in preparation for Tokyo.

Flickinger remains the #3 American all-time in the event, sitting just behind Kathleen Hersey (2:05.78).

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Bobo Gigi
3 years ago
Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

Regan’s underwaters are always far superior to anyone else, in backstroke and butterfly. It’s especially true on the final underwater. Then it’s absolutely remarkable how quickly Regan flattens out and loses momentum.

Thankstoall
3 years ago

Watched the 10pm broadcast and missed bowman talking about hali? Anyone have the link to this interview

Smith-King-Huske-Manuel
3 years ago

Congratulations Hali!

Best of luck in Tokyo!

#TicketPunched

N P
3 years ago

Can we possibly have the split comparison with the US Open record previous to Hali’s? Never been able to find splits for that race – hand-timed it from the video, but they cut away from Mary T on one of the walls.

Goag
Reply to  N P
3 years ago

29.53
1:01.41 (31.88)
1:33.69 (32.28)
2:05.96 (32.27)

If you look up 200 butterfly races from before Susie O’Neill broke Meagher’s world record, you can see the splits.

N P
Reply to  Goag
3 years ago

Yes! Thank youuuuu!

Swimmerj
3 years ago

Flick w the prelims semis finals progression

queen

Smith-King-Huske-Manuel
Reply to  Swimmerj
3 years ago

That’s how you do it.