In Saturday’s finals session at the 2011 FINA/Arena World Cup, Missy Franklin broke the World Record in the 200 SCM backstroke. Click here to read all about that swim. The old mark was held by Japan’s Shiho Sakai at 2:00.18 from the 2009 World Cup.
Below is the video of the race, posted on Youtube by the Czech plavekyblog. Check it out!
My bet is going to Allison Schmitt, because she seems to really be improving her speed. Her 24.7 scm 50 free was incredible, as I would usually consider her more of a long course middle-distance swimmer. Her world cup best times convert to 22.1, 47.5 and 1:40.4 in yards, and if she were swimming NCAA right now, that is just crazy.
Amanda kendall or even megan romano have really step it up to be serious contenders this year for that relay spot!! Wouldnt be surprised if one if not both make that relay team.
Hadn’t realized that Amanda Kendall had gone from a 57.3 to a 54.7 in a little more than the past year following a coaching change. While time drops get a lot harder from that point, it could be she’s still got more room for improvement even from there.
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…regarding the W 4×100 FREE relay for the olympics…
i do think the american women have a very good shot at gold in London, but as things stand right now (and it’s early so things can and will prob change by the summer of 2012!), the dutch girls are still widely considered the favorites if not by much?
yes Jessica went out too fast and some have argued that her going half a sec slower in the finals over her prelims may have cost the us the gold in Shanghai, but don’t forget that the netherlands were also handicapped by Inge giving them an unexpectedly horrible leadoff that trailed Natalie by a whopping 0.82 sec and was the… Read more »
And I understand the fact young americans are not here for the prize money but in the case of Andrea Kropp she could have won the 200 breaststroke and a win over big names can be a boost in a career.
To emilyr, of what I see now here from France and I’m not a specialist but only a swimming fan, if american women are on her best, gold medals in the 4X200 free (too many talents) and the 4X100 medley (a dream team) are for USA. I agree that the 4X100 free is difficult but if you put Missy at the end with a half body lenght behind Netherlands the gold medal is for USA. The question is : can USA be a half body lenght behind Netherlands before the last relay? The next generation of american women sprinters is great, Missy Franklin, Lia Neal, Madeline Schaefer, Kristen Vredeveld, Faith Johnson, Simone Manuel and USA will be very tough to… Read more »
what selkie posted above 🙂
replying to coacherik : USA Swimming finally mentioned the WR today (10/24): http://www.usaswimming.org/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=1563&itemid=3887&mid=5822
to bobo: about gold in London, i think the 400 free relay will be quite a tough one for the american women even w/Missy on it if all 4 dutch sprint stars are on fire. Aus will be challenging too in the 4×200 if their coaches don’t mess up like they did in Shanghai. the medley relay is really the only one where i can see us comfortably winning, with a def shot at the WR…
oh here are some more videos of Missy, from an interview back in feb:
… Read more »
The general attitude over here is that unless you’re talking the Olympics/World Championships or the selection meet for the Olympics/WCs, you should race as often as you can and at as high of a level as you can as long as it doesn’t interfere too much with training. Because the more you race, even when you’re racing jet-lagged and unrested, the more mentally ready you’re going to be for the bigger meets down the road.