2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
- Sunday, June 26 – Sunday, July 3, 2016
- CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- SwimSwam Preview Links and Schedule
- Psych Sheets
- NBC Broadcast Schedule
- Sunday Finals Heat Sheets
- Live Results via Commit Swimming App (or find them here. )
- Links to Live Stream
In the media area during finals tonight, Michael Phelps said that he will not be swimming the men’s 200 free at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
With this update, Phelps’s first event will be the men’s 200 fly prelims on Tuesday.
Before the decision to drop the event, Phelps was seeded 14th. Since he will not be swimming here in Omaha, Phelps will most likely not be competing in the men’s 800 free relay in Rio.
Earlier this month, Phelps stated that he wanted to swim a quick enough time at the Longhorn Elite Invite that he could forgo the 200 free at this meet and still secure his spot on the relay, but he swam 1:48.73, falling to Townley Haas, Clark Smith, and Clay Youngquist of Texas.
However, since Bob Bowman is the head coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic Team, he still has the power to name Phelps to the Olympic relay.
I believe this was heavily alluded to in his press conference. Phelps said it sucks not being able to swim for the first 3 days of the meet (meaning the 200 fly as his first race) and Bowman kinda looked at the audience in surprise like “well the cat’s outta the bag now isn’t it?”
Say goodbye to the 4×2 Mikey
1 53 low in 200 fly is guaranteed now !
Bowman said that if he is good across the board then Phelps will be on the relay..
So 1 53 low atleast is what will be required to support Bowman’s point.
I don’t believe he goes ( or needs to go ) in 1 52 territory as of now.
Goal is to put a solid swim and get on the team!
His goal is to go faster than SA.
Source Facebook Videos
1:52.5 is grantees I would say.
Good decision
With brain?
Hmm, he is the GOAT, but still he should have to prove that he can swim fast 200 free if he wants a spot on the relay imo. At least a prelim swim to improve his 1.48 in season times, because that is nowhere close to the US top level at trials
He can time trial it during the Olympic team camp. There is plenty of precedent for using camp to “test out” best relay legs. Lay down an big swim and he’s on the relay with no controversy.
New rules dictate that there anyone named to the Olympic roster as a “relay only” swimmer must swim the event in either the prelims or finals. No “alternates” that don’t actually swim the relay are allowed anymore, under penalty of disqualification.
The decision on whether or not to put Phelps on the 800 free relay over the 6th place finisher in the 200 free at trials can’t wait too long.
I think this decision is motivated more by the swims of those in the 400 free as opposed to Lochte’s im. Those 400 free swims convinced me it will take a sub 147 just to final
I agree, and if Phelps has decided not to swim because he risks producing only the 7th fastest time in the heats or semis, then it is a bit of a travesty. It means that he will probably be picked (Bob’s your uncle!) without the 6th fastest swimmer being able to race him. Why is he hiding?
I don’t think he is confident with his 200 free right know – that swim in Texas 2 weeks ago beaten by 3 Texans may have spooked him-, otherwise he would have swum at least the prelims.
But maybe if his 200 free will be in much better place during the camp, Bob will put him in the 800 FR. I think that’s what’s happening.
Phelps’ free has been clearly worse (than his fly and IM), since his comeback.
I don’t think even Bob will put him on 800 FR final. If he does, then no one else is faster than 1:46 and it’s not a good news.
Another perspective– at pan pacs 2014, the last time phelps swam competitive 200 and 100 frees, here were his times.
4*200 free- 1:46:08, so 1:46:60 or so in an individual race
100 free- 48:45
Considering phelps is in much better shape now than he was in 2014, you can bet he’ll be at least a second faster, so 1:45:60 at the worst. This would be good enough to make it for sure; thats about the time he went to to win 2012 olympic trials.
100 free- hes in better shape again, he can drop 3 or 4 tenths for sure, getting him to 48.1 at the worst. This is also more than enough.
No need to worry- he’ll be… Read more »
He also went a 49.1 at US NATS in 2014, very impressive, considering he barley got his feet on the wall. Bob said he though he was going to go a 51. And Phelps said he came up at the flags, so that is probably a 48 low to win that race.