Reported by Mitch Bowmile.
MEN’S 200M BUTTERFLY FINAL
Top seed: Michael Phelps (1:55.17)
World record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps
American record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps
U.S Open record: 1:52.20 – Michael Phelps
U.S Nationals record: 1:52.20 – Michael Phelps
JR World record: 1:55.92 – Andrew Seliskar 1:52.20
2012 Winning Time: 1:53.65 – Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps will be heading to his fifth Olympic Games after a first place finish in the 200m butterfly.
At the first 50, Phelps was just 0.19 seconds ahead of world record pace. At the 100-meter mark, Phelps was once again just 0.19 seconds ahead of his world record pace. At the 150, Phelps fell off his pace but was still in the lead, holding off all advances from Tom Shields.
In the last 20-meters Phelps began to tighten up, but still managed to get his hands on the wall first for a winning time of 1:54.84.
Shields also tightened up towards the end but managed to hold on for second with a 1:55.81 ahead of Jack Conger‘s 1:56.45. Gunnar Bentz was fourth in 1:56.46, Chase Kalisz was fifth in 1:56.64.
- Michael Phelps (1:54.84)
- Tom Shields (1:55.81)
- Jack Conger (1:56.45)
- Gunnar Bentz (1:56.46)
- Chase Kalisz (1:56.64)
- Pace Clark (1:56.66)
- Zach Harting (1:56.92)
- Andrew Seliskar (1:58.34)
For official results click here.
I did doubt him in this race, and I’m absolutely thrilled he proved me wrong.
Great race! Congrats to Tom, however, I think Jack lost his spot on the 3rd 50. He held back too much…he should have let it go a bit more. His fitness level would have carried him past Tom, and maybe past Michael in the last 15-20m. He had the fastest last 50m of the field. Look for Jack to be the next stud for USA in 200m fly.
Have to agreee. Conger’s last 50 in both the 200 free and fly’s were faster than his 3rd 50, and he went from 8th to 3rd in the last 50 of the 200 fly final. And in the 200 free final his last 50 was the fastest of his 50’s other than the first. The dude was a 500 swimmer that has incredible aerobic base but still can’t put together the mentally correct race IMO. I think he needs to just let a 200 rip completely from the start, take it out as hard as possible and hope to die, because evidently, he really doesn’t die. If he starts doing that in practice over the next few years, he could… Read more »
Great swimmer
Hope he makes it in the 100.
I expect he will win the 100 this week.
He has great chances to win i believe too …..
Really happy for you, Tom. This is well deserved, and it was a great race to watch. What a thrill, and I hope you enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Well done dude. There were only about three of us on this sire pulling for you. You deserve a lot better.
Tom Shields!! I never doubted you in the 200, even though most people did! Congrats man, go get them in the 100 as well:)