Michael Phelps told press today that he might time trial a 100m freestyle tomorrow in order to be in consideration for the 4x100m freestyle relay in Rio.
Phelps reportedly said, “I would love a chance to be on a relay.”
Phelps, who completed competition tonight, is already qualified in three individual events and a lock on the 4x100m medley relay considering his first place finish in the 100m butterfly.
He’s not a lock, however, on the 4x100m freestyle relay or the 4x200m freestyle relay, two relays he’s been a part of consistently since the 2004 Olympic Games.
Although Phelps’ personal bests and medal history argue his importance on the two American relays, he opted not to swim the 100 and 200m freestyles at these Olympic trials.
Phelps was entered in both events but scratched them in order to focus on the 200m butterfly, 200m IM, and 100m butterfly which he all won.
The fastest Phelps has been in a 100m freestyle this year was the 49.49 he swam at the Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite. That time alone wouldn’t put him on the 4x100m freestyle relay.
In the 200, Phelps has been a 1:48.21 this season, a time that wouldn’t put him on the 4x200m freestyle relay.
The decision to put a swimmer on a relay is based on coaches discretion, and they can use any member of the team, regardless of whether or not they swam the event individually at trials.
The one rule that does effect whether or not Phelps could swim a relay is the fact that it’s now a rule that every member of the Olympic team must swim, meaning all swimmers that the United States brings for the relays must compete.
It is great to share ideas on this very complex topic. There are a lot of great suggestions here. It seems that it is hard to find a perfect answer. Ultimately the coaches can and will decide which swimmers will race the free relays in prelims and finals. I hope that we can all agree that the process needs to be about achieving the *best possible result* in Rio and not about letting Phelps get one more medal because he is the “superhero”. The same goes for Lochte. Lochte’s performance was obviously hurt by the 400 IM injury situation. But it is hard to know what Lochte is capable of under better circumstances and how he will recover from this… Read more »
I think Dressel should lead off, ONLY if he can break 48, followed by Conger, Followed by Phelps, then Adrian. Actually, HOLD IT, maybe Phelps should anchor, and Adrian 3rd or 2nd. I still think that he is going to surprise us all in that relay. Just DON’T EVER make Adrian lead off. But Adrian would probably anchor with a 46 mid high.
Dressel, Phelps, Conger, Adrian. The remaining four of the top six finishers from OTs swim prelims, with one of them maybe replacing Conger depending on who’s hottest at the time. But I see Conger motoring. Especially since it’ll be his first race.
the swimmers that came 3rd & 4th gets no swim????
No swim in finals, unless they’re hotter than Conger seems to be.
1:48.21 this season, not tapered.
If he wants the relay bad, I think 48 low.
I question the premis of this article. Maybe he is doing the 100 to practice racing the 100 so that he will do better on the relay when he swims it.
I think there are swimmers who made the 100 free a priority and deserve the shot to swim the relay they qualified for. To let anyone skip the race and get in by selection or time trial is not fair to those who actually swam the race. I would be disappointed that Phelps would take someone else’s only shot at the Olympics this year in this manner!
If Phelps took a spot on that relay it would be because he believes he can help the team win, not because he wants to take someone else’s spot.
Yes but since when does someone say “I think I would be better than others and help more than them” and that gives them a spot on a relay in the olympics? There would probably be 20 or so relay swimmers!
I get that. But we’re not talking about just anyone. It’s Phelps. I’m not even saying he should. I don’t know how he’s been in training. Only he, bob, and his teammates really know that. So I’m sure if they put him in its because they believe it’s the right decision to help the team to their highest finish, not because they wanted to count someone else out.
I hear you, but…
The thing that makes this complicated is that we really don’t know where is freestyle is at in 2016.
His times leading up to trials do not inspire confidence that he should be on either relay (which includes head-to-head competition against other candidates).
By not swimming any freestyle at trials, we are left with only the free split in his 200 IM final which appeared to have any kind of real effort. He split 28.27, which is slower than the last 50 of any of those heading to Rio (apples vs oranges, I know — but it’s all we got).
What we won’t know definitively is how things are going in the workouts leading… Read more »
It would be for best if the guys who consider themselves candidates time trial it tonite. Tonight is the shortest session and Phelps, Conger and Lochte should all dial in and give it a go.
In some regards there’s downside. These are 3 guys who aren’t afraid to compete, so that’s great. But if they time trial a 48.9 or a 49.0, that will greatly diminish their arguments to be added to the relay. I don’t know if Shields would want to throw a swim in. Being realistic, he is swimming 2 individual events which are up to 6 swims and one swim in the medley relay which is his best shot for gold. Shields has not been the… Read more »
I love Phelps as much as the next swimming fan but…. If he can only swim it on a day without any other races then it shouldn’t count for anything. If he swims this relay in Rio and takes a spot away from someone who earned it I will be throughly upset.
Ditto. I think anyone wanting to swim the relay should have to swim the event to make it. Wouldn’t matter to me if it was Phelps in his prime. If he didn’t swim the event to be considered for a relay, he should not be considered, even if it costs us a medal. It’s not fair to those who did swim the event and made the team. They earned it. Any other scenario would be political.
Phelps Conger Murphy
Let’s be sensible and get them all swimming so at least they’ll know who the fastest guys are.
Rather than come day 2 at Olympics having 10guys all capable for the relay (6 qualified, above three and lochte)