2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS
- When:
- Wave I Dates: June 4-7, 2021
- Wave II Dates: June 13-20, 2021
- Prelims: 10am CDT | Finals: 7pm CDT
- Where: CHI Health Center / Omaha, Nebraska
- 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Cuts
- Wave I & II Event Order
- LCM (50m)
- Day 6 Prelims Live Stream (NBC Olympics)
- Psych Sheets
- Wave II Live Results
- Day 6 Prelims Heat Sheets
Fourth-seeded Michael Andrew will not swim the 100 fly on Friday morning, instead gearing up for the evening’s 200 IM final and his shot at a second Olympic event.
That’s a bit of a departure from his early Olympic Trials strategy. The 22-year-old Andrew took on a challenging 100 breast/100 back double early in the meet, despite many expecting him to scratch the back and focus in on the breast. Andrew still made the Olympic team with a 100 breast win, though the final wound up closer than either the heats or semifinals were.
Andrew also led heats and semifinals of the 200 IM on Thursday. He would have been a top candidate to make the Olympic team in the 100 fly, given his American record 100 breast and career-bests in the 200 IM. But the 100 fly/200 IM double Friday night would have been even tougher than his 100 breast/100 back double, and Andrew has scratched out of heats of the fly, using the morning to rest up for his 200 IM final at night.
Two other top-10 seeds scratched events for Friday morning. Alex Walsh is out of the 200 back – she qualified for her first Olympic team via a 200 IM win on Wednesday. Ashley Twichell is out of the 800 free – she’s already earned an Olympic berth in the open water 10K and was 5th in Wednesday’s 1500 free.
All scratches from the top 40 seeds:
Women’s 800 free
- #7 Ashley Twichell
- #11 Emma Weyant
- #23 Claire Tuggle
- #27 Kendall Dawson
- #39 Kristen Cornish
Men’s 100 fly
- #4 Michael Andrew
- #16 Ryan Held
- #24 Kyle Robrock
Women’s 200 Back
- #7 Alex Walsh
- #12 Claire Curzan
- #21 Amy Bilquist
Michael Andrew is the most over hyped swimmer in the last 30 years.
I really really hope Ryan held beats MA in the 50 and gets on the team for sure, cuz I’m scared he won’t make it with the 6th in the 100
I think held will make it for the relay, suprised he wouldn’t take a run at the fly tho
After his 50.80, and the way he swims prelims at this meet, I’d love to see a 50 low. I was hoping for a prelim all-out swim, then scratch semis. But his 200 IM should be the priority. After the meet, maybe a 100 fly time trial? Just for a best time (and a new article on this site).
I’d pay $50 to see a 100 fly time trial. Can we start a gofundme?
At this point in the meet there is no need do a prelim swim and scratch.
I think he did backstroke as a sort of prep for the IM and not to make the team.
That’s a good point. A lot of swimmers are struggling with the flags. I’m sure it helped having 3 100s done.
Andrew giving up 100 fly pretty much buries Held hopes right?
You mean in the 50? You really never know with that race. Held had a really good start on his 100, which is promising for the 50 at least.
I mean on the team.. Probably won´t have enough doubles for 6th places to be called for relays
There will be plenty of doubles, people are overstressing over that. (Dressel x 2, Murphy, Andrew, Smith, Wilson, at least one of the distance guys, would be 7. Andrew or held in the 50 would be 8 (doubles) and I think they only need 6
10 doubles are needed
Dressel 50, 100 free, 100 fly. Murphy 100, 200 back. Smith 200, 400 free. Wilson 100, 200 breast. Kalisz 200, 400 IM? That would be 11, plus Apple doubles 100 free individual and 200 free relay spot.
And Brooks Curry is going to win the 50 free so that’ll give him a double with the 100 free relay spot 🙂
Yeah, I will eat a sock if Finke doesn’t make the mile.
Anthony Ervin will win the 50, with Nathan Adrian second.
All of MAs 200 IM training could put his 50 free at 21.6 or higher. I’m still hoping for a 21.2 but that’d be surprising even for the biggest MA believers.
I think 21.2 is more likely than 21.6, personally. That would be wild, but the kid is having the meet of his life and the starts and front halves of his races certainly suggest his speed is very much intact.
If he goes 21.2 he’ll possibly win 5 medals in Tokyo. Assuming he makes both medley relays.
Man, he could’ve gone 50.4 the way he’s been dropping, a lock for top 2, and would’ve made Dressel sweat until the last 10 meters. Must suck to have so much versatility. And in contrast to the other guy, he actually swims the events, so we have actual times, and not just hyperbolic conjecture.
Held out, is he done or is he satisfied with the relay
He’s going all in on the 50 free.
Dude is ALL IN!!
Let’s hope to see something special! Maybe a sub 1.55?!
He loose d opportunity. He is the top for this event. The highest chance to beat caeleb dressel