Tom Shields Swims 1:40 in 200 Fly at Pacific SCY Masters

2019 Pacific Masters SCY Championships

  • April 12th-14th, 2019
  • Santa Clara Swim Club, Santa Clara, California
  • Results

With just 2 weeks to go until the US Masters Swimming spring National Championship meet in Mesa, Arizona, Pacific Masters’ Swimming hosted its LMSC Championships this weekend in Santa Clara.

The highest-profile competitor at this year’s meet was Olympian Tom Shields, who swam in one race on Sunday: the 200 yard fly. He put in a 1:40.29, which is the 4th-best time of his career and his fastest time in the event since 2016. His was an exhibition swim. His splits:

  • 21.93 | 25.07 (47.00) | 25.99 (1:12.99) | 27.30 (1:40.29)

In 2013, Shields tied Michael Phelps for the fastest 200 yard fly in history in 1:39.65. Just 6 years later, 16 swimmers have been faster, including Jack Conger’s U.S. Open Record of 1:37.35. In that personal best time from 2013, Shields’ first 150 split was just 1:13.79: he was out 8-tenths of a second faster in Sunday, though he paid for it on the way home.

Shields has swum the long course 200 fly at two meets this year: the Knoxville stop of the Pro Swim Series, where he swam 1:59.86; and in Des Moines, where he swam 2:02.59.

Also swimming at the meet was Tiffany Sudarma, wife of Olympic silver medalist Josh Prenot. She won 18-24 meet titles in the 50 yard back (28.35) and 100 yard fly (1:02.47). She also placed 2nd in the 200 breaststroke, Prenot’s specialty, in 2:42.83. Sudarma did her collegiate swimming at SMU.

Other big winners at the meet included 42-year old Eve Maidenberg, who swept the freestyle races in the 40-44 age group:

  • 50 free – 28.10
  • 100 free – 1:00.85
  • 200 free – 2:08.23
  • 500 free – 5:44.96
  • 1000 free – 11:58.29
  • 1650 free – 20:06.72

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NotTomShields
5 years ago

I think the biggest take away from this swim is that his underwaters are dominant. He is obviously getting older, and has a harder time finishing the 200 fly but you can see with short course that he is the fastest underwater. It will be interesting to see with the 200 fly at his next long course meet how he compares

anonymous
5 years ago

I love Masters swimming.

50free
5 years ago

Obviously anyone would love to be this fast. I had always considered the “piano” thing as a relatable joke cause basically everyone has done this at some point. I wouldn’t consider it a criticism of someone’s character or work ethic, it’s a gutsy strategy or something that happens to the best of us.

anonymous
5 years ago

great swim. Looks like he is over his back injury. Super

sven
5 years ago

Personally, I would kill to go 27.3 on my last 50.

Tim
Reply to  sven
5 years ago

Or any 50

Thomas
5 years ago

It’s almost as if he didn’t rest for this meet…and died a little at the end…how crazy…

Austinpoolboy
5 years ago

You know, hats off to him for going for it, even if he risks looking bad that last 50. Takes guts to go out in 47.

Jimbo
Reply to  Austinpoolboy
5 years ago

Takes guts and a bit of craziness. Props to him

Lol
5 years ago

I wish nothing but the best for Tom, a great guy! hope he performs well this summer and next year.

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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