Missy Franklin has been fighting the urge to see herself as an “Olympian”. Though media across the world wanted to anoint her before she set foot in Omaha, she insisted she was an “Olympic hopeful”, just like the other 1,840 swimmers at the meet.
And in the women’s 100 back, she not only became an Olympian, she became an American Record holder in the race, with a 58.85 to blow away the field.
She looked like she might be in trouble headed into the turn; she only went out in 29.11, which left her 4th at the turn. But she came home in a nearly-even 29.74 to mark a 58.85 that breaks Natalie Coughlin’s American Record in the event, set back in 2009 in a rubber suit.
The comparative splits are below, and highlight how vastly different these two swim their races.
Coughlin ’08: 28.39 – 58.94
Franklin ’12: 29.11 – 29.74
This swim also took down a 58.97, also swum by Coughlin, that was the old U.S. Open Record.
Congratulations to Missy- great swim. Rachel Bootsma is the story of this race with her upset of Natalie.
No vids of the races on NBC ! out of Usa , we can(t see them ! yesterday night , i recorded with my cellphone the 200 free ( men ) , the end of the 100 back ( men )and the 100 back final ( women ) . jeahhhhhhhhhh
I don’t understand why you keep mentioning Emily Seebohm and Anastasia Zueva when Zhao Jing had the fastest time in the world until yesterday and Aya Terakawa has been 59.1
Zhao Jing has textile best from 2010. Zueva had best time up until yesterday at 58.97. And Seebohm has been 59.2
I’ll let Bobo answer, but here’s my take:
Terakawa will certainly be very dangerous, but as you know with the japanese, they can swim fast consistently, but with the exception of the very few (hats off to mr. Kitajima), japanese swimmers usually swim faster at their national championships.
As for Zhao Jing, It’s not even clear if she’s selected to go to London. She finished fifth (and failed to final in the 200) in 1:01.27 at the Chinese trials in April. Fu Yuanhui and Gao Chang finished first and second. I don’t have any information who actually goes to London in the 100 back.
Bobo is dead on: I think the toughest opponent for Missy in the 100 will be… Read more »
Are the videos of the races archived somewhere?
Back to Missy. She’s definitely a special talent. The question about her future is clear. Does she want to be an all-around swimmer like Michael Phelps or Ryan Lochte with 8 gold medals as goal in 2016 or does she want to become a sprinter? Because she can’t do the both. I bet on the first answer.
MIssy can still do free and back.
And she can still win both back and 200 free.
Only 100 free is difficult to win. 100 free is the most competitive event in both women and men.
Example: The swimming superstars Phelps and Lochte have won 200 free, but they have never won any 100 free medal in international events.
NBC seems to be archiving some race video here, but I’m not sure if they’re region-locked:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/index.html
those outside USA cannot view the videos stored in nbc.
Apparently their the trials is considered an olympics event already, and bound by agreement between national broadcasters and IOC.
I haven’t watched the race. Are the videos of the race archived somewhere? It would be good. And please don’t answer me nbcolympics.com. It doesn’t work outside USA.
couple of writeups below.
apparently missy considered dropping the 200 earlier in the day (im glad she didnt!)
http://www.denverpost.com/olympics/ci_20957083/london-calling
http://capandgoggles.com/2012/06/27/exhausted-eloquence/
exactly : fabulous last 50 ! a missile …….should i say
Was it just me or did her first 50 seem slow like maybe she got a bad start? That was an insane last 50 from Missy.
yea her start needs work, as do her turns/breakouts. Which makes this time even more amazing for her.