Phelps shares secret to success in 200 fly (Video Interview)

Produced by Coleman Hodges. 

Reported by Jared Anderson. 

Today’s 200 fly for Michael Phelps was a night-and-day difference from his performance at Charlotte just a month ago. Phelps went out with a vengeance, pushing out to a big lead and then holding on through some pain to win the event in 1:57.62. That time is obviously far from Phelps legendary Beijing and London Olympic days, but is a huge improvement from the 2:00.64 he swam at Charlotte.

Phelps had a commanding lead at the halfway-point, but the field really made up ground on him late. Leading that charge was 21-year-old Chase Kalisz, an NBAC teammate whom Phelps compared to a little brother in his postrace interview. Kalisz went 1:58.06, making up a ton of ground in the last 25 meters.

Last summer’s national champion Tom Shields finished third. Shields swam his race last summer similar to how Phelps swam it tonight, going out fast and visibly hurting on the way home but persevering for the win. Shields was much more balanced tonight, splitting 30.5/30.6/30.2 over his last three 50s to go 1:58.28 for third.

Brazil’s Kaio Almeida was 1:58.98 for fourth, eking out that spot over American Tyler Clary (1:59.62). Kyle Whitaker was 1:59.66 for Club Wolverine and Cal’s rising sophomore Justin Lynch was the last guy under two minutes at 1:59.73.

Gunnar Bentz, who swims in the same recruiting class as Lynch, but across the country in Georgia, was 2:00.20 and Bobby Bollier rounded out the A final in 2:01.16.

Mexican national and Cal Bear Long Gutierrez touched out former NCAA champ Dylan Bosch, a South African national who trains with and competes for Club Wolverine, to win the B final 2:00.63 to 2:00.66.