2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS
- When:
- Wave I Dates: June 4-7, 2021
- Wave II Dates: June 13-20, 2021
- Prelims: 10am CDT | Finals: 7pm CDT
- Where: CHI Health Center / Omaha, Nebraska
- 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Cuts
- Wave I & II Event Order
- LCM (50m)
- Prelims Live Stream (NBC Olympics)
- Psych Sheets
- Wave II Live Results
Day two of wave II of the 2021 US Olympic Trials did not fail to provide us with many surprises, the biggest one being Ryan Lochte missing the semi-finals in the 200 freestyle.
Lochte, a 4-time Olympian, has represented the United States in the 4×200 freestyle relay at every Olympic Games he’s contested, winning 4 Olympic gold medals from the event. In 2016, Lochte swam a time of 1:46.62 to finish 4th overall in finals. Today, he was almost 3 seconds off of that time, posting a 1:49.23 to place 25th out of prelims, missing the semi-finals by over a second.
For Lochte, his performance in the 200 freestyle is a possible foreshadowing of his 200 IM later in the meet. In 2016, Lochte placed 2nd with a time of 1:56.22. However, during the Olympic Trials qualification period, he has only been 1:57.76 in the event.
Lochte later missed his heat in the 100 backstroke, opting for a declared false start.
Baker’s Injury Impacts
As predicted, the field for the women’s 100 backstroke was extremely tight through prelims. However, what few people could have predicted was the fact that former world record holder Kathleen Baker was only 11th out of prelims, failing to break a minute in the event.
Baker, who has been dealing with a foot injury, had a low start and appeared to lose her kick during the closing meters of the race. Her time of 1:00.46 from this morning was almost exactly a second off of her season best of 59.45. In order to make the final, Baker will most likely have to match her season best, as 7 out of the top 8 finishers in prelims were under a minute.
Farris’ Event Selection
NCAA Champion Dean Farris scratched the 200 freestyle event this morning to focus upon the 100 backstroke. The move was surprising for some, especially considering he is the American Record holder in the short course version of the 200 freestyle.
Although Farris had traditionally focused more on the 100 freestyle, the move has raised some concerns. Farris was only 14th overall this morning in the 100 backstroke with a time of 54.27. Plus, the top 6 finishers in the 200 freestyle make the team as opposed to the top 2 in the 100 backstroke.
King’s Prelims Performance
World record holder Lilly King did not appear too content with her performance in the 100 breaststroke prelims, even appearing to mouth some choice words after her finish.
Despite this, King was still almost a second faster in prelims this morning that she was during prelims in 2016. At the 2016 meet, King touched in a time of 1:06.45, qualifying first overall for semi-finals, before eventually going a time of 1:05.20 in finals. Today, King touched in a time of 1:05.67, appearing fairly controlled throughout the race, to still take first overall out of prelims.
Madden Shaking Up the 400 Free
Paige Madden had a statement swim in the 400 freestyle. After claiming 3 NCAA titles this year, Madden was expected to have a big performance at Trials. However, her swim this morning revealed she may even have more up-her-sleeve than originally anticipated.
During prelims, Madden stayed right on Katie Ledecky’s toes, finishing in 4:05.92 to move to #13 all-time in US History. Madden’s time was a massive improvement upon her previous best of 4:09.19, and she may challenge Leah Smith for the second roster spot tonight.
Other Notable Misses
- Women’s 100 backstroke:
- Beata Nelson (19th)
- Nelson swam a personal best in the 100 butterfly during last night’s semi-finals.
- Linnea Mack (24th)
- Beata Nelson (19th)
- Men’s 200 freestyle:
- Grant House (17th, scratched into semi-finals)
- Maxime Rooney (19th)
- Jake Mitchell (26th)
- Trey Freeman (27th)
- Grant Shoults (33rd)
- Women’s 100 breaststroke:
- None
- Men’s 100 backstroke:
- Austin Katz (18th)
- Clark Beach (23rd)
- Women’s 400 freestyle:
- Emma Weyant (12th, already qualified for 400 IM)
- Rachel Stege (41st)
Notable Declared False Starts/No Shows
- Jay Litherland did not swim the 200 freestyle after qualifying for Tokyo in the 400 IM last night. Litherland was a member of the 4×200 freestyle relay at the 2017 World Championships.
- Nikol Popov did not swim the 100 breaststroke, where she was seeded 19th overall.
- As previously mentioned, Lochte was a no show for his heat in the 100 backstroke after swimming the 200 freestyle prelims.
Lochte missing the 200 free semis isn’t a surprise. Him making the team at all would be more of a surprise. He’s 36 years old and doesn’t seem to have a post swimming career plan (as does Cody Miller). He’s also been pretty open about his financial problems.
Lochte’s coaches probably bear some responsibility for his poor showing. People in their mid-30s need more rest.
Coaches don’t have a fountain of youth.
Jeahhhh!!
Come back to us after the 200IM.
A 36-year-old swimming a season-best and by far his smartest 200 free of the season, certainly disappointing given who it is but not really a surprise IMO. Lochte should be pretty pleased with the time and the race at the end of the day. His life is fine.
Yes and no. He is a very high profile professional swimmer. Making the team means millions to him.
Not really.
I’d be shocked if it meant millions to him at this stage in his career. Especially after the Rio saga. It definitely means a lot of money, but I think his days of bringing in millions are over.
>Plus, the top 6 finishers in the 200 freestyle make the team as opposed to the top 2 in the 100 backstroke.
I thought the 5th and 6th place finishers in the 100/200 free weren’t necessarily guaranteed a spot on the team?
They’re not guaranteed, but I don’t know if there’s ever been under a instance under currently selection criteria where it hasn’t happened. Granted, not sure we’ve ever failed to have two swimmers hit an A cut, either…
In theory, yes. The 2nd-place finishers in each event are also not guaranteed a spot on the Olympic team. But if enough swimmers qualify in multiple events, the 2nd placers and 5th/6th placers get officially added. Usually, the U.S. has plenty of multi-event swimmers, so the overall roster cap of 26 men and 26 women isn’t a factor. We wouldn’t expect it to be this year, either.
Digging into the data for some fun with numbers:
Lochte’s 200 free prelim split comparisons from 2008, 2012, 2016, and today:
2008: 25.7, 27.6, 27.1, 26.2 = 1:46.8
2012: 25.4, 27.6, 28.1, 26.5 = 1:48.1
2016: 25.4, 27.6, 27.4, 27.3 = 1:47.7
2021: 25.8, 27.8, 27.5, 27.9 = 1:49.2
Looks like his 2nd and 4th 50s were the difference makers.
On an interesting note, those times placed him 2nd, 1st, 4th, and 25th, respectively. The 25th place times for 2008-2016 were 1:49.6, 1:50.3, and 1:49.4, respectively. His time today would have placed him 21st, 11th, and 21st, respectively. Not sure why the field was comparatively so much slower in 2012, but I digress…
I hope… Read more »
2012 being slower than 2008 can be attributed to the LZR supersuit.
Also a peak Lochte 200 free prelim would be him screwing around for the first 150, doing a monster final underwater, turning on the jets, then cruising the last 10 metres with a 4 metre glide into the finish. That is not what happened today 🙁
Maybe first year without super suits?
Thx! This is really useful. His 4th 50 today really stands out as being slower, and that spells trouble for his 200IM.
It is interesting that his 4th 50 was so much slower, as he *looked* as though he was pulling away from the field at that point. I guess that is what happens in a slower heat.
It is also interesting that his first 50 wasn’t so different from all his other OT prelim races. When I first saw the splits, it really stood out to me how much slower his first 50 was than the top qualifiers. So I figured he screwed up his pacing. But it looks like that’s how he has always taken out a prelim 200 free.
Yup. I had the same reaction.
As compared to 2016 he lost small fractions of a second in each 50: .4, .2, .1, .6
Lochte’s fastest first 100 was 53.0. Typically the other top guys have gone out a second or more faster, and Lochte has gained ground on the second 100. Today, Lochte only stayed even on the second 100.
Shoot, maybe he didn’t under swim that first 100 and just couldn’t bring it home.
Yup, that’s what his historical time splits indicate.
I dunno what it is this time around but Lilly King is really getting on my nerves. This brash, in-your-face side of her has been accommodated for too long
She also waited forever to get on the block If I remember correctly.
She’s the world record holder, the officials will wait for the greatest swimmer in the history of the event
Spot on
Probably the fact that people were much more forgiving due to her age and just the fact that she hadn’t been around very long.
I’ve never really liked her from the get-go and she always gave off that rough and loud “I’m the greatest” American stereotype.
Interesting take on King…. however, I’d like to assert that if she were a man then people would not say these things. If she were a man, rather than saying “brash, in your face” we would say “he is a fighter, a real winner, he kicks you know what”.Think GHJ. Think playing air guitar on deck at Sydney Olympics.
Just my 3 cents.
Everyone hated GHJ though and clowned on him when the Australians beat him.
If Lily King keeps winning most people will say that stuff. And that’s what they have been saying. If she starts losing things will get negative quickly. It’s the nature of conducting yourself in that way, you have to back it up every single time.
I immediately thought of GHJ and not liking him for the same reasons.
And you’ll have accommodate it for longer. Don’t get your undies in a twist princess.
The retired specter of Kitajima looks down on you with stern disapproval
“Shut up and swim”?
I love swimmers like hat. Sport needs it
The world is filled with all kinds of people. Maybe best to appreciate our differences.
Amen!
Are people really surprised by Dean? When was the last time he put up some top tier times?
I blame Madyson Cox for the decline.
Maybe the fans just didn’t meme him hard enough!?