Russia could hear the cheering all the way from San Antonio, as the greatest Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, returned to form and crushed the world’s leading 200m butterfly time of 1:52.94 in the finals at U.S. Nationals.
The 18-time Olympic gold medalist went out hard in 53.40, over a second faster than a charging Jack Conger, but was able to bring it home in a back-half split of 59.54 to touch the wall first and claim the national title.
This morning, Phelps registered a prelims mark of 1:55.15 to give us a glimpse of what he would unleash in finals. But even for the most emphatic ‘Phelps Phans’, the thought of a sub-1:53 was a lofty goal for the 30-year old, given his fastest time so far this year coming into San Antonio was the 1:57.62 he clocked at the Pro Series in Santa Clara this past June.
Then, again, we are talking about THE Michael Phelps, the living legend who prior to the meet said, “of course not being at Worlds is going to motivate me.” History has proven that a properly-motivated, properly-conditioned Phelps is a dangerous Phelps.
In a pre-meet press conference, Phelps even foreshadowed his race tonight, saying “I don’t want to be No. 2. I don’t want to be No. 3. I can’t stand it. Sure, this is different. But it’s still the end of the [season], and I’d like to put up some No. 1 times in the world.”
Indeed, his remarkable 1:52.94 mark rockets Phelps to the top of the world rankings, beating out the freshly minted World Champion Laszlo Cseh who earned gold in Kazan in 1:53.48.
Phelps’ time tonight ranks as his 6th-fastest of all time. It is also the 8th-best by anyone of all-time. The only swimmer faster than this performance NOT named Phelps is Cseh.
In fact, this swim is .02 faster than the 1:52.96 Le Clos clocked to beat Phelps in London.
With his storied history, Phelps is sending a message loudly and clearly just one year out from Rio.
Top 6 performances for Phelps:
1:51.51, 2009 FINA World Championships
1:52.03 2008 Olympic Games
1:52.09, 2007 World Championships
1:52.20, 2008 Olympic Trials
1:52.76, 2009 U.S. Nationals
1:52.94, 2015 U.S. Nationals
Phelps fans:Phelps has to qualify at trials before he goes to Rio just like everybody else. He has Shields, Conger and others that he has to beat in Omaha first.
400 IM anyone? Obviously he’s in shape enough for the 200 fly and he is swimming the 200 breast this weekend……. How can we leave an event he currently holds the world record in (correct me if I’m wrong) off the table?
David Nolan is eternal
???
Melbourne’s race is still by far my favorite Michael Phelps’ 200 fly ever.
It was majestic.
This one is different. I didn’t expect at all such a fast time. So it’s more a great moment of surprise and joy.
On the Eurosport France website, there’s an article about that swim.
They write that these US national championships are “usually without much interest”. 😆
I think they meant the US nationals when they don’t serve as trials.
The American swimmers who are not in Kazan will appreciate….
Pathetic.
http://www.eurosport.fr/natation/championnat-des-etats-unis-200-m-papillon-michael-phelps-se-promene-et-envoie-un-message_sto4849444/story.shtml
amazing swim great start and great strong pace …. Congrats to Michael and all the final swimmers! Announcer would tone it down a lil .. Seemed more excited then everyone there.
The announcer did a GREAT job. He is the reason the crowd was so supportive and excited.
I want Kazan to over already. The King has arrived! LOL.
to be over.
I openly admit I was among the doubters (strictly in regard to the 200 fly) and I am in shock. This defies conventional wisdom in a big way.
I can only imagine what a nightmare this is for Cseh. After years of frustration in the IM trailing behind MP (and Lochte) he carves for himself a niche in the 200 fly and no soon he does it that this happens. He must be like “not him AGAIN!”
Yes, Cseh must be a bit heartbroken. If Phelps will choose the 200 and 100 butterflies and 200 IM, the exact same races Laszlo is in for than he will never win an Olympic gold medal, when he is one of those swimmers who would definitely deserve at least one Olympic gold. Phelps is out of this world.
God knows which form they will be in Rio, surely it will be an interesting race.
I hope no more drunken driving from Phelps.
How would you like to be the Speedo executive who had Speedo cancel their endorsement/sponsorship deal with Phelps a year or 2 ago? After this meet, Phelps will again (along with Ledecky) be the most marketed/publicized athlete in all the hype leading into the Olympics.
Reminds me of the guy who turned down JK Rowling and Harry Potter because he thought the story was stupid and childish. OUCH!
43 agents turned down JK Rowling.