Michael Phelps (photo: Mike Lewis)
Luca Urlando is one of swimming’s biggest rising stars, winning his first national title in the 200 butterfly at the 2019 National Championships. Luca’s been turning heads for awhile, but his 1:53.8 200 fly at the Clovis Pro Swim in June, breaking Michael Phelps’ legendary 17-18 National Age Group Record, seemed to capture everyone’s attention–even Michael Phelps. Phelps DMed Luca and offered a little coaching advice.
See Luca’s 1:53.8 200 fly NAG race video here.
If you have Michael Phelps messaging you personally, you’re becoming a star. Period.
Urlando is back in the pool for World Junior Championships, swimming a full schedule, including the 200 fly.
PREDICTIONS?
I think Urlando goes off at Jr Worlds, taking titles in…
100 fly – 51.5
200 fly – 1:52.5
200 free – 1:46.5
But who cares what I think. What do you think?
Follow Luca Urlando on Instagram here.
FOLLOW GOLD MEDAL MEL ON INSTAGRAM HERE.
RECENT GMM EPISODES
This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
I like these predictions. My longer term prediction- Milak and Luca are going to have a Phelps/Lochte type rivalry through the next quad with a race to the first sub 1:50
…..agreed
Michael Phelps’ advice for Mel Stewart during breakout year before Goodwill Games 1986:
30 x 100 goo-goo-gaa-gaa on 1:30
50 waaah under :35
50 no breath from blocks
10 x breast feed all out sub 28
Close, but it was:
40 x 200 WHIOP! WHOPI WHOP! WHOP! on the 2:20 (heart rate 130-140/mn)
then the……..
30 x 100 goo-goo-gaa-gaa on 1:30
50 waaah under :35
50 no breath from blocks
10 x breast feed all out sub 28
plus…
x2 crab-walks around the pool (x1 active recovery, x1 for pace)
some fans seem to have been following you since 1986 ….Wow
Yes, always a swim geek too
I’m getting some young peter parker vibes from him.
Peter Tingle?
Yeah, I like his honest and humble interview. Happy to be cheering for him.
Luca-Carson is shaping up to be a Phelps Lochte type rivalry. Luca is just like Phelps, an exceptional flyer while Carson is just like Lochte, an exceptional backstroker, and they both overlap in the IMs and the 200 free.
At NCAAs I see Carson doing 200/400 IM along with 200 back. Luca does 200 fly as well as the 100 fly/100 back double. Those appear to be their best short course events.
So much can change in the next few years. But yes, very exciting to see them so young and hungry. Can not wait for next summers events!
You guys forget Luca is 0.4 slower than Carson in the 200 IM sc with a 1:42 from December
Folks, Gianluca has had a great season and will have a long and happy career. I wish him nothing but the very best but don’t like being disappointed, so:
100 Fly: 51.9 (Silver or Bronze)
200 Fly: 1:53.1 (Gold)
200 Fr: 1:46.4 (Gold or Silver)
fair predictions without the usual ” crazy times ” we can witness this summer ….
He’s the best 200 fly talent to come along since Phelps. He knows the key to the 200 fly is the second 100, and that’s why he holds his stroke so well the entire race.
A 1:52 would be an awesome time with one year to go to the 2020 Olympics.
Assuming you mean American or else Milak has already come along
“He’s the best 200 fly talent to come along since Phelps. ”
Did you forget Milak?
he did forget …that happens guys ,,,,relax
When is Jr Worlds?
August 20th-25th.
200 Fly 1:53.20 GOLD
200 Free 1:46.17 GOLD (Foster SILVER 1:46.49)
100 Fly 51.60 SILVER
Optimistic (all PBs, no) yet realistic
Foster 200 free is a lot more optimistic than what expected of Urlando..