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Reece Whitley Wasn’t Going to Celebrate… But Did Anyway (Video)

2019 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Reported by Lauren Neidigh.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

  • World Record: Anton Chupkov (Russia), 2:06.12, 2019
  • American Record: Josh Prenot, 2:07.17, 2016
  • Championship Record: Josh Prenot (United States), 2:07.17, 2016
  • U.S. Open Record: Josh Prenot (United States), 2:07.17, 2016
  • Olympic Trials Cut: 2:17.89

TOP 3

  1. GOLD: Reece Whitley (CAL), 2:09.69
  2. SILVER: Daniel Roy (ALTO), 2:10.01
  3. BRONZE: Joshua Matheny (PEAQ), 2:11.02

Reece Whitley and Daniel Roy have been battling in this race since they were age group swimmers. Roy had the edge going into the final turn, but Whitley kicked it into gear to win this one, breaking 2:10 for the first time in 2:09.69. Roy wound up 2nd in 2:10.01. That makes Whitley the #6 American this year, while Roy is ranked #5 with his season-best 2:09.50.

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dpr dan
5 years ago

Don’t forget about Texas Will. He went 2:08 at his Sectional Meet in July.

Leavingonthetop
5 years ago

That should be DQ. His toes pointed inward lol. You can hear it in Rowdys voice when he reviews the underwater. He knows that should be DQ but holds back on saying it.

Dawg Talk
5 years ago

If Fink, Wilson and now apparently Cordes keep training together in Athens, then these two are definitely gonna need to be eyeing the 2024 games instead of 2020. Pros working together vs. rivals competing against each other…you choose.

Jona
5 years ago

gosh all this cheating in breaststroke disappoints me! reminds me of cameron van der burgh. anyway, ill stick with the two people i know who have integrity in their strokes and the way they do the 200 breaststroke. Andrew Wilson, and Nic Fink for Tokyo 2020.

Anonymous
Reply to  Jona
5 years ago

Thankfully, more than 2 people do not cheat.

Yabo
Reply to  Jona
5 years ago

Chupkov seems to have a pretty legal stroke

SwimFan
Reply to  Jona
5 years ago

It must be really frustrating to compete in breaststroke and lose to a cheater. In this case, it looked like he probably had it anyway, but the dolphin kick is really clear. Not sure why Rowdy didn’t say anything – you could tell when he was watching the underwater replay he saw it, and stopped mid-sentence, then finished with saying something else.

Anonymous
5 years ago

Great finish …. if they were swimming butterfly.

Captain Ahab
5 years ago

Reece Whitley needs to work on his turn over. 2:09 is a very fast swim but I see the world record going down to 2:04 within 12 months. Also, why is a guy 6’9″ only a 200 breaststroker? He should be able to swim a 200 freestyle and 200im

MICHAEL
5 years ago

I’ve been having this discussing between a few of my swim friends and I’m really curious what others might think. That slow motion finish by Reece at the end…he totally does a dolphin kick. A big one. But it’s at the same time that he lunges to the wall. Should that count as a potential DQ? Do you think he already touched the wall prior to the kick?

https://youtu.be/XzZc__pJ4xw?t=364

tom robinson
Reply to  MICHAEL
5 years ago

It’s an illegal kick prior to the touch and under close observation it appears that he does it intentionally.

DrSwimPhil
Reply to  MICHAEL
5 years ago

Yes, and it will be called next summer. All of these breaststrokers better start cleaning up their cheating now, or we’re going to see a boatload of DQs next summer

Weece Rhitley
Reply to  DrSwimPhil
5 years ago

Officials always watch for the touch and not the rest of the body, so it’s an easy sneak

PhillyMark
Reply to  MICHAEL
5 years ago

Looked like he started downward trajectory of kick just prior to touching wall

Tim
Reply to  MICHAEL
5 years ago

Many breaststroke swimmers do this and get away with it – but it is a DQ. Overall breaststroke is the most susceptible to little bits of cheating like this because it’s the slowest stoke with the most artificial limitations on what movements are ok.

Hank
5 years ago

Such a class act. 2:09 now makes 2:07 at OTs look very possible. This event is always deep for USA but if Reece hits a 2:07 and anyone else is not at the very top of their game he is probably in.

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