Missy Franklin showed the world what kind of shape she’s in tonight at the 2015 Duel in the Pool with a dominating performance which resulted in a new US Open record.
Franklin stepped up the blocks in order to race Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu in the 200m freestyle for her first race of the evening, gearing up to beat the all around ace swimmer.
After 50 meters Hosszu took the lead turning in 26.41 to Franklin’s 26.54, but Franklin quickly overtook her heading into the halfway point. With a 28.44 second 50 split Franklin hit the wall at 54.98 in first, and never looked back.
At the 150 Franklin extended the lead over Hosszu and managed to hold on over the last 50 in order to take home the win in a new US Open record of 1:52.74. That time for Missy was a staple win for team USA and brought her within two seconds of Sarah Sjostrom’s world record of 1:50.78 that she set in Doha, Qatar last year.
The time for Missy ranks her as the 10th fastest performer ever in the event and the second fastest American behind only Allison Schmitt.
Franklin’s swift time also ranks her fifth in the world this season in the short course 200m freestyle.
2015-2016 SCM Women 200 Free
McKEON
1.51.66
| 2 | Federica PELLEGRINI | ITA | 1.51.89 | 12/05 |
| 3 | Veronika POPOVA | RUS | 1.52.46 | 12/05 |
| 4 | Femke HEEMSKERK | NED | 1.52.53 | 11/21 |
| 5 | Missy FRANKLIN | USA | 1.52.74 | 12/12 |
If both ledecky and Schmitt make the team in the 200 free, Franklin can just focus on the 100 back
I think missy should focus on 200 Free and 200 back. Do 100 back just for the replay. Beating Emily Seebohm and Katinka Hosszu at 100 back now is very hard for her.
It’s clear that Missy doesn’t recover as well as before the summer 2013 anymore.
And when you watch her next to Hosszu, you see a huge difference of body in terms of power and athletic build overall.
It looks like she’s in better shape since she trains again in Colorado but there’s still much work to be done, especially in the weight room and of course underwater.
Hopefully I’m wrong but what I think is that she can’t make winning doubles anymore.
And she will have to make serious choices in her schedule.
200 free semifinals will be just before the 100 back final. I don’t see her even medal on backstroke if she swims… Read more »
Bobo,
Why do you think that Schmitz do it right.
now she far away from her time from 2011.
Whilst it seems logical for Franklin to prioritise both her 200s; it may not be quite as easy an exercise putting this into action.
Whilst I fully agree that she has a very large gap to bridge to the expected pace-setters in the W100BK (Seebohm, Wilson, Nielsen & potentially Hosszu); DOES USA necessarily have any better options in this event ? At this point, this is far from certain. Coughlin is a maybe but otherwise you have a “ruck” on the wrong side of 59.5.
I also agree that Franklin is NOT likely to challenge the likes of C1, C2 & Sjostrom in the W100FS but again; does USA currently have anyone better. Yes, Manuel may’ve set SCM ARs at… Read more »
Nice win, but what happened in her back event? I thought that was her signature event.
She and Hossu swam nearly back to back events with only the men’s 200 free in between. A crazy tough double even for veterans.