From Our Original Report on Ricky Berens’ American Record:
Ricky Berens almost retired after the 2012 Summer Olympics. He changed his mind, and for his troubles he’s been rewarded with a new American Record in the 200 yard freestyle.
The swim came on the first night of the 2013 American Short Course Championships (the meet is not a USA Swimming Sanctioned “national championship,” though is certainly an official USA Swimming meet, and is run by Longhorn Aquatics in Austin. He went to college at the University of Texas, where this meet is being hosted, and has now returned as a volunteer assistant.
Berens, going after the record on the 200 yard split of his 500, swam a 1:31.31 to break the old mark held by his former teammate Dave Walters at 1:31.72 from the 2009 NCAA Championships.
The all-time U.S. Open mark (swum by a swimmer of any nationality on US soil) still belongs to Great Britain’s Simon Burnett in 1:31.20 from 2006 (before the suit era).
Berens was only 9th in the prelims of this race in 4:29.05, but a medical scratch put him into the A-Final where he had his record-breaking performance.
For the split to be official, Berens had to finish the 500 free legally, which he did to officially transcribe it onto the books. He finished the 500, basically cooling down, in a 5:05.36, though that won’t be the number that is remembered by fans.
Simon Burnett was wearing a high neck body suit in 2006
It was a textile bodysuit that Burnett wore. Big difference between an FS Pro and the suits of 08-09
Yes, but there was still a great deal more to the suit than what Berens was wearing here.. I hopped into a 4×50 relay situation without training at all leading up to the Austin Grand Prix in 2009. Perfect relay exchange and went 20.5, my best flat start ever was 21.2 in 2000, freshman year, in college. I was wearing a FS Pro bodysuit for the relay and aquablade jammer in 2000.
Fantastic swim, just sick efficiency and low turnover, my jaw dropped at how he swam this.
It’s amazing how flippin’ smooth he looks
I think Ricky Berens is a volunteer assistant with the UT program, not Longhorn Aquatics. Dave Walters, also mentioned here, is now assistant coach with the Longhorn Aquatics.
how does he shoot through the water like that!?
Nine strokes a lap. Nine.
Andrew Seliskar went a 53.3 100 breast at the PVS senior champs in prelims. New NAG
Berens’ freestyle is just beautiful to watch.
It really is. His slow turnover rate is just incredible.
He will be very helpfull for the 800 free relay in Barcelona …. Well done Ricky !
France will beat USA in this relay. USA hasn’t the king MP and the very experienced PVK anymore. France hasn’t Amaury Leveaux and Clément Lefert anymore. We have 3 sure swimmers for each team. USA has Ryan Lochte, Ricky Berens and Conor Dwyer. France has Yannick Agnel, Jérémy Stravius and Grégory Mallet. The problem for each team is the fourth swimmer. USA has Michael Klueh, Matt McLean, Jack Conger or Clay Youngquist who can swim 1.46/1.47 this year. France has Mehdy Metella or Romain Magula who can swim 1.48/1.47 this year. Anyway, if USA wants to beat France, the fourth American swimmer must start at least 2 seconds ahead of Yannick Agnel who can finish like a bullet.
Bobo, that’s of course that assuming no one improves in the next 3 years, and no one else vies for a spot on that relay. Neither are good assumptions. The USA has a handful of 16-17 year olds that keep breaking the 200 Free NAG record. In 3 years, who knows who might challenge for a spot on that relay. I think I may be a bit too early to be making predictions.
I’m just talking about the world championships in Barcelona this summer.
I would be scared to race McClean or Conger, if theyre the last pick on that relay. Those dudes are lights out fast, proven again and again… USA wins, no contest.
I loved the look on the French guys faces when they lost to us because of Leezak. Go USA!
I love playing with your so called ” predictions ” u re-act so aggressively . In london , u were no where near the Usa before Agnel went into the water . I was laughing so much by thinking how would be your face watching the race . Ohh , i forgot one thing to mention as well . U predict a victory of france in the medley relay !!! u didn’t even qualify for the final in London !!! U never had good breaststrokers as far as i can remember . And to match Kenin Cordes , u need to build up quickly a breastroke star …which i defenetly doubt . Thanks for the good laugh . I appreciate
Also, with Conger training under Eddie Reese at Texas, he will be dropping time, gaining strength, it’s unpredictable what kind of monster that kid will turn into.
edited by moderator