Produced by Coleman Hodges.
Reported by Robert Gibbs.
WOMEN’S 200 METER FREESTYLE – FINALS
- FINA A: 1:58.96
- U.S. Olympic Trials: 2:02.39
Allison Schmitt made things a little interesting, staying pretty close to Katie Ledecky down to the final strokes of the race, but Ledecky maintained her top seed from this morning and won the race in 1:55.71 to Schmitt’s 1:56.52. There was a wide gap between those two and the rest of the field. Maya DiRado finished 3rd in 1:58.64, followed closely byMelanie Margalis (1:58.70), Cierra Runge (1:59.08), and Simone Manuel (1:59.08). Patricia Ortega (1:59.31) and Hannah Cox (2:00.27) finished 7th and 8th.
Missy Franklin, in lane 2 of the B-final after missing the A-final this morning, swam like a woman on a mission. She opened up a lead early in the race, led by a body length at the 100, and finished in 1:58.64, which would have tied her for third in the A-final.
I’d anchor Ledecky whether she swims the 100 at Trials or not. Throw the other 3 fastest out there and hang with Aussies for as long as possible and then trust Ledecky…
My long shot pick at Oly Trials is Katie Ledecky in the top two in the 100 free, which means should could anchor the women’s medley (prelims of finals) in Rio.
i’m thinking the same thing as everyone else – she is so awesome. it’s been fun to watch her confidence grow in front of the cameras in addition to the pool. also, hearing her talk about 200 times made me think about how long it seems since we’ve heard her talk about her 400/800. i know it hasn’t, but she’s just so far ahead of everyone else in those events that they almost seem like an afterthought. the women’s 200 free is one of my most highly anticipated races in rio.
The 200 will most likely be one of the best races in RIO – thats clear . It will be a serious dogfight for the medals . Schmitty is seriously back too …. OWW Owww
Why is Simone Manuel and Maya DiRado rotary breathing in the 200 meter freestyle? Katie Ledecky and Allison Schmitt breath to their right side every stroke.
So That Rowdy can see it … LOL
“She’s breathing to her right, so she knows exactly where she’s at!!!!!!”
“So what, I don’t care, I’m not gonna stop”
She is awesome.
What a poised Champion !!! Love it too
Can’t upvote so I’ll have to type out that I agree. KL is such a bad-a and my favorite athlete right now.
Would love to see Clark Smith and Katie Ledecky train in a same group, both are very hardworking in training according to their coach and teammate.
I hope not.
Ledecky is the master of high pressure, Clark Smith buckles under pressure.
I don’t think this is reasonable or fair. Clark Smith has had some great swims in big meets.
That’s right. Clark is going to knock your socks of one of these days. He’s got what it takes to be at or near the top internationally. Eddie will get him there.
“one of these days” Can’t say for sure because you can’t count on consistency with him.