WOMEN’S 200 FREE FINAL
1. Katie Ledecky (NCAP), 1:55.11
2. Allison Schmitt (SUN), 1:56.79
3. Paige Madden (UVA), 1:56.80
4. Katie McLaughlin (CAL), 1:57.16
5. Bella Sims (SAND), 1:57.53
6. Brooke Forde (LAK), 1:57.86
Katie Ledecky and Allison Schmitt have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 200 freestyle after finishing 1-2 in the event at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Ledecky will try to defend her Olympic gold medal won in Rio five years ago. As for Schmitt, she will return to swim the event at the Olympics. She swam the event in 2008, in Beijing, and in 2012, in London, when she won the gold medal and set the current American record. In 2016, she make the Olympic team, but as a relay-only swimmer.
Since Italian Federica Pellegrini, the winner of the gold medal in 2008, will also compete in Tokyo, we will see the last three Olympic champions in the event face each other. In fact, it is the first time in history that an individual swimming event will see its last three Olympic champions competing on the Olympic stage.
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The most past Olympic champions we have seen in the same race was two. It is not frequent, but it is not that rare either. For example, in 2016, Sun Yang, the 2012 champion, and Tae-Hwan Park, the 2008 gold medalist, competed in the men’s 400 free. Missy Franklin and Kirsty Coventry, the two most recent Olympic champions in the women’s 200 back at that time, faced each other.
But never before we have seen three Olympic champions of the same individual event compete against each other in this event on the Olympic stage. Pellegrini, Schmitt and Ledecky are already swimming legends. It will not be an easy task for any of them winning the gold medal again in the event, since they will be challenged by fierce competitors like Australians Ariarne Titmus and Emma McKeon. That’s why the women’s 200 free must be one of the most exciting races of the Tokyo Olympics.
Could happen again in 2024, we need one of the following things to happen:
a) Someone other than Kromowidjojo/Blume winning the 50 free this time and the new olympic champion + Kromowidjojo + Blume coming back in 3 years
b) Someone other than Kromowidjojo/Manuel/Oleksiak winning the 100 free this time and the new olympic champion + Kromowidjojo + Manuel or Oleksiak coming back in 3 years
could happen this year in 100 free if both Manuel and Oleksiak qualify: Kromowidjojo/Manuel/Oleksiak. The title only says last 3 olympic champions 🙂
And they will all be beaten by the Aussie Titmus
Typical swimswam fan. Always rooting for the up and comers while having no loyalty for rooting for different range of veterans who have done great things for the sport. Always out with the old and in with the new with you people. So sad.
Just shut up it’s good to see the diversity in the sport let people support who they want to support
Diversity in the sport is what makes it evolve …..and new Rivalries . How can u not see it yet is beyond many of the passionate fans here .
Maybe. The Aussies are good at blowing it based on recent memory. Could be all the pressure dumped on them by their country.
Most likely. However, there are famous examples of Australians being heavy favorites in individual events and then not delivering in the final.
***Ariarne « the terminator » Titmus
Did past champions ever face each other in more than one event before 2016?
2016 200m fly for men is another one that had 2 champions. 2016 200IM had the last Olympic gold medals, but they were all Phelps 🙂
In 2016, the men’s 100 fly & 200 IM both had the previous three champions competing (Michael Phelps).
thats not a head to head. the article is pointing out that the w200 free will have 3 lanes filled with previous olympic champs in the event.
technically the title doesn’t word it that way, so I give Ferb the W
I was gonna make this comment as well.
I love your username haha, Chalmers > Dressel
GOAT , and if someone breaks his 400 IM WR , it then took 3 great swimmers to take down a single man (Milak, Dressel, and Seto maybe?)
And Lochte and Beidermann as well. He unified 5 WR’s that are now held by 5 different swimmers.
An ironically an Aussie with no previous Olympic golds shall probably win!
Best of luck to all of course!
Typical swimswam fan. Always rooting for the up and comers while having no loyalty for rooting for different range of veterans who have done great things for the sport. Always out with the old and in with the new with you people. So sad.
u did a beautiful copy-past comment here ….what’s the reason for that ? LOL🤪
My moneys on Pelligrini
I hope so. Let the Queen retire at the top,
Let? You have to earn the win not just have it given to you.
And we’re almost certain to see a new Olympic champion crowned as long as Arnie is anywhere close to her time.
Typical swimswam fan. Always rooting for the up and comers while having no loyalty for rooting for different range of veterans who have done great things for the sport. Always out with the old and in with the new with you people. So sad.
The terminatah will crush them
Ariarne swam almost a second faster than Ledeckys best ever swim at the peak meet of her career.
Titmus has to swim poorly for Ledecky to win the 2
I’m pretty sure they’re are many many who will be cheering for a KL repeat win.
Even in the game of chess one cannot avoid the cycle of prgress and decline. Acknowledge those having achieved being the best, but also celebrate those on the way to being the best. Nothing to do with loyalty.