Matt Grevers, the defending 100 backstroke Olympic Champion, has stiff competition at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha. The first weekend in June, Grevers watched nervously as Ryan Murphy dropped a 52.7 in Santa Clara and David Plummer clocked a 52.4 in Indianapolis. Grevers was a 53.4 in Austin, which, for him, was an improvement over his June 2012 pre-trials performance, a 54.6.
Predicting the 100 backstroke times in Omaha is tough. I’m a big Ryan Murphy fan, and his stock’s high after the 2016 Men’s NCAA Championship performance, the monstrous 43.49 100 yard back and 1:35.73 200 yard back.
I’m picking:
David Plummer third in 52.29
Ryan Murphy 2nd in 52.19
Grevers first in 51.8
I know, that’s fast for Grevers, but I think his best time is captured in Omaha, and in world record pace.
CONFESSION: I’m nervous about my picks after Plummer’s 52.4 in Indy. What do you think?
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Matt Grevers‘ workout video is courtesy of his manager David Arluck.
Maybe all 3 of them can make the team! Grevers and Plummer in the 100, Murphy in the 200.
Grevers also has a shot at the 4 x 100 free relay team
He will try to get on it for sure
Am I such a bad guy for hoping for David Plummer wins a seat to Rio?
No, not for that reason 🙂
LOL LOL LOL
Plummer 52.0
Murphy 52.1
Grevers 52.2
With the 100 Fly running a semi-close second, this is the race I am most excited to see. I can’t wait to have the opportunity to witness this in person. As previously mentioned, nothing would be shocking in this race, which makes it so intriguing.
Predictions (For what a toss-up is worth)
1st: Murphy: 51.8
2nd: Grevers: 52.0
3rd: Plummer: 52.1
If this were the case, then Grevers would need to thank his long frame for the touch….
Ps. I think Jaboc Pebley will be sub 53 in this also, he’s been on a roll. Crazy to think that a sub 53 potential guy isn’t in the conversation….
Jacob*
This is the hardest of all races to predict the 2 who will go through . TOUGH , Tough , tough . They are all 3 incredible right now .
Who wins in Onaha ? have no clue at all . I will be sad for sure for the third left home .
Usa is monstreous on backstroke this year – they have the possibilities to win both races in Rio .
Omaha starts in exactly 10 days – can’t wait to see the 3 of them battle it out .
That last part reminded me of Hulk throwing Loki around at the end of the first Avengers movie. I’m glad he’s such a nice guy, cause Grevers could do some serious damage if someone pissed him off enough.
what a physical monster !!!
I am my sure this has ever happened, but what if there is a tie for 2nd? Is there a swim off to make the team?
The exact procedure is at the end of this comment. Basically, there’s a swim-off at a time and placed agreed to by the athletes and the National Team Director.
I don’t believe it’s ever happened for the Olympics, but it has happened for a spot on the 2011 World Championships roster (warning: old article from The Swimmers Circle): http://swimswam.com/jones-v-schneider-the-showdown-in-charlotte/
Tie in Same Event. In the instance where there is a tie between two swimmers in
the same Event for first place, both swimmers will be classified under Priority #1.
In the instance where there is a tie between three or more swimmers for first
place in the same Event or where there is… Read more »
Didn’t something like this happen in the 50 in ’08 or ’12 between jones and garret Webber-gale?? I remember jones had a bad finish and touched the pad really low. Could have also been for a relay spot in the 100. Does anyone remember what I am taking about?
What does FINA do if all 3 break the world record, and a whoever is in 3rd breaks a world record and can’t go to the olympics. Do they reconsider the 2 person per-event per-country rule? For track and field there has never been such a rule. For many other sports, much more than 2 go. Why is swimming still this way?
track is 3 per nation in individual events (and 1 team per for relay events like swimming)..
and there are limits in other sports (for example basketball, the qualified countries are only permitted to submit 1 team per)