Heat sheets are out for the prelims session on day 5 of the 2012 US Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, and there are no major surprises on the lists.
Of some note, there is no Michael Phelps on the psych sheets for the 200 backstroke; he was entered in the race, and some speculated he might swim it just to see how many events he could qualify for, but there was little realistic chance (barring something unexpected earlier in the meet) of him swimming this final.
That will give him an edge on rival Ryan Lochte, in the twinned race the 200 IM, as he will have a double throughout while Phelps will only be swimming a single race.
Along those same lines, Tyler Clary isn’t swimming the 200 IM; again not a huge surprise, as he hinted in his interview with Garrett last week that he’d probably dropping the race on the basis of not being able to compete with the speed of Phelps and Lochte in the shorter medley.
Many of the breaststrokers have scratched out of the 200 IM, as those semi’s would conflict with the 200 breast final in the evening. That includes Clark Burckle. Others, however, like Scott Weltz – the 4th seed headed into the breaststroke finals.
Aside from Lochte, Texas’ Austin Surhoff seems to be planning, at least for now, to try the double as well.
In the women’s 100 free, the whole of the top 30 swimmers are still entered. That might be more surprising than even if there were scratches, especially perhaps a swimmer like Liz Pelton, who was 3rd in the 200 IM final and has her best bet, the 200 back, yet to come.
There is a rule allowing for coaches’s discretion on relays to include anyone who is on the team, but I think it is time for a revisit to this rule. StuartC does not make an empty point: the truth is that these coaches always get to the witching hour at the Olympics to hold people in or out and it is – at times – unfair. Two examples… in 1988 Scott Jaffe earned his spot on the 4×200 and did not swim it at night on coaches discretion. In 1992 Melanie Valerio got her hand on the wall in the top 4 of the 100 free and was denied swimming it at night in Atlanta. Instead the coach inserted Jennie… Read more »
I totally disagree with allowing ANYONE to swim in the relays – once you start making exceptions (even for Phelps), the whole process will breaks down Top 6 in finals swim – period. No time trials at Olympic Training site, no exceptions. What about a time trial then for Clary or anyone else to get back into top 2 spots for individual.
If we get into making exceptions, then when does it end!? You can’t make the rules up as you go along! What about somebody that gets third at OTs that was 3rd by 0.01 and was clearly very sick!!? – do you give them a second chance for a time trial? – you need rules to keep everything… Read more »
Could not disagree more. It is important to remember that we are not talking about sending someone to London who didn’t qualify. We are talking about putting the strongest relay together from the swimmers on the team. It is the coaches discretion who swims on the relays. If people want to be such a sticklers for the trials results, they should request a rule change so that only the top four at trials swim freestyle relays and only the top qualifiers swim on the medley relay.
Who says it’s “coaches discretion who swims on the relays” Is that a rule? Please show me the rule book that describes this and you will have my apologies – if this is true, why even pick 6 for relays? Both Lochte, Grevers, Phelps, 50 free, 200 free winners and anyone else could just time trial at Olympic practice venue.
Phelps should have at least swum the prelims to put a recent time out. I love Phelps but you gotta have some rules to keep it fair for everyone!
Article II of USA Swimmings Athlete Selection Procedure Form for the Olymipic Games (Page. 11 for easy reference).
http://www.usaswimming.org/_Rainbow/Documents/6f2789b8-be5c-4432-a7df-5262f96762c5/2012_SOG_SWI_Pool_ATH.pdf
Sorry, its actually Page 12.
My apologies! Thanks for the quick reply and link! This makes me feel better that rules are not being circumvented.
Surhoff has just scratched the 2Back in order to focus on the 2IM
This is the race to look out for youngster Ryan Murphy. I think he can place in the top 3 or top 5 very least
I also think it is the right thing for Grevers , US swimming and in the interest of fairness that Grevers swims it tonite and earns it. Phelps is an exemption in that he has been 48.5 and has a decade of skin in the game as our best relay swimmer. Hre is a 47 high lead off at least for certain.
With due respect to others, there should not be other exceptions and the integrity the process should hold.
By one extreme reasoning we can all say that Weber-Gale, Jones and Lezak have all shown what they can do many times in the past, so let’s write them in for a hall pass too. I don’t hear anyone… Read more »
Given the poor state to the US men’s 100 freestyle from both a depth and quality perspective, Grevers probably has done enough without swimming tonight to merit a spot on the relay (not saying at night). I guess that could change if a bunch of guys go 48.5 or better, but I don’t see that happening.
Agreed, Clary was not going to touch in 1:46 in the 200 free. the 800 free relay is well set.
Why should Clary have swum the 2/4 free? Looking at his 4im free split , it is probably his worst stroke and his best time in the 2 free is 149. He would have definitely been faster but don’t think he could break 147. As far as the 4free, those were some slow times for what ever reason and there are a couple people I wish would get to swim it again.
I think Matt Mclean could’ve posted a much faster time at night
So we’ll never see how good a backstroker Phelps really could have been.
I think we’ve seen plenty with how many times Phelps finished 2nd to Piersol. You know, the greatest backstroker of all time.
Liliana,
don’t worry Phelps is going to return to the sport a year or two after London. The greats always do return. I know he says otherwise, but so did Thorpe, Hansen, and even Coughlin at one point. He will specialize in the 100 free, 100 fly and 100 back for his goals in Rio de Nero ’16. I’ve talked to a couple coaches about him returning. The majority agree with me. No way he’s retiring for good, he’s too young and too talented- I think his return will eventually come out of boredom and finding that he was passionate for the sport and thanful for all that he has been able to accomplish.
I wish you were right, but I’m not sure it’ll happen. Thorpe retired very young, Hansen wants Olympic gold…but what will motivate Phelps? He’s won everything and then some. Maybe sponsors and US Swimming will put some pressure on him to come back, who knows.
There are many different motivating factos involved. Everyone goes though a burn out phase at one point and eventually find a new factor to drive them. In Phelps’ situation, I think he will go through a stage after London where he will enjoy his free time and doing things he’s always wanted to do. But that can only last so long.
You have to remember he is still young, and most athletes in popular U.S sports retire in their late 30’s or early 40’s. Many of these athletes in their thirties have made plenty of money and had a ton of success ( world series rings, NBA tiitles etc..) And are free agents which means they have the ability… Read more »