WATCH: Townley Haas Beat Michael Phelps in 200 Free in Austin

Race Video courtesy Ande Rasmussen. Haas is in the black cap in lane 6. Phelps is next to him in the white cap in lane 5.

2016 LONGHORN AQUATICS ELITE INVITE

American Record holder and defending NCAA Champion in the 200 yard free, Townley Haas, topped American Record holder and 2008 Olympic Champion in the 200 meter free, Michael Phelps, on Saturday at the 2016 Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite meet on Saturday.

In fact, Phelps placed just 4th in the race with a 1:48.73 – almost a second behind Haas (1:47.86), and trailing as well Clark Smith and Clay Youngquist.

While that result wasn’t so much a surprise given this stage of the season, where a 30-year old Phelps hasn’t been as freestyle focused as he was earlier in his career and also has less to prove at in-season meets, it was a surprise for one big reason: the fact that he and his coach Bob Bowman told Sports Illustrated before the meet that it was Phelps’ informal audition for the 800 free relay at this summer’s Olympics.

This leaves the winningest Olympian of all time with a decision to make. Skipping the 200 free at the Olympic Trials could save him 2-3 swims and allow him to push his meet-start date back a day.

Fortunately for Phelps, his head coach Bob Bowman is the U.S. Olympic men’s team head coach, and he should be able to get some clarity about his status with Bowman and USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch about his status. This is not to say he’ll be guaranteed of anything because of his resume, but he should at least have some clarity about where he sits and what he needs to do to earn relay spots, even if he doesn’t chase an individual spot in the 200 free.

 

 

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SwimmerFoxJet
7 years ago

Didn’t Phelps just finish 2 weeks of altitiude traning a few days before this?

bobo gigi
7 years ago

Headline with catchy intention

But I don’t blame just swimswam for that. All media do the same.
NBCsports: Phelps and Franklin beaten
Here in France, L’Equipe: Phelps beaten
Each year it’s the same at all in-season meets. What’s going on? Is he done? Is she done? Is it time to worry?

And about US olympic trials each 4 years it’s the same from a lot of fans too.
All countries have done their championships. Fast times from the entire planet. US swimmers swim tired at in-season meets. Everybody makes comparisons. We draw conclusions from all kinds of swims while we shouldn’t.
Fans are worried.
This year it doesn’t sound very good for the US… Read more »

ATX
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

Zero sensationalizing in the headline, or the article. Literally just the truth. Townley beat Phelps last night in Austin. Done deal.

Rumbuns
Reply to  ATX
7 years ago

It’s a legitimate claim that the headline was fairly sensationalized. Phelps finished 4th, but this would not have gotten anywhere near the same number of clicks if the piece had read “Townley Hass Beat Texas Teammate Clark Smith In 200 Free in Austin” or similar. It’s all in the branding, and Phelps was absolutely included to generate buzz.

Kristaps Porzingis
Reply to  Rumbuns
7 years ago

You all need to take marketing 101.

Alec
7 years ago

Clark’s last 50 was insane.
26.8

About Braden Keith

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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