Leah Smith, a 21-year-old out from the University of Virginia, chased Ledecky the entire way – gaining instead of fading at the end – in a manner no one in the world has done since perhaps the 2013 World Championships. He was in pain.
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The proof was in the composition of the field at the US Olympic trials on Sunday.
The 11-time Olympic medalist, on the Mount Rushmore of American male swimmers, is entered in five other events in these trials: the 200 freestyle (preliminary heats Monday), 100 free (Wednesday), 200 backstroke (Thursday), 200 IM (Thursday) and 100 butterfly (Friday).
Phelps is attempting to swim at his fifth and last Olympics. “Right now I’m trying to be the best American swimmer I can be and then once I get on that team, it’ll be fun and getting to represent your country is easier than the part of trying to make it”. “It is what it is”.
“I’m just so excited to be here”, Worrell said.
Dealing with a groin pull from the morning preliminary session, Lochte faltered in the final 200 meters and finished third – and third place is death at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He later said he suffered a similar groin injury a year ago and had to stay off his feet for “several days”.
“This is the one thing I wanted to accomplish, anything after that is going to be a bonus”.
But the injury did not keep Lochte from jumping back in the pool Monday for the 200 freestyle. Phelps said Kalisz deserved to win given all his hard work.
The two event schedules are overlapping Monday and Tuesday, and possibly Wednesday if a third game at the CWS is needed for a best of three series.
Walking gingerly from the pool, the 31-year-old said he was feeling the injury, especially on the kicks coming out of the turns. “I put everything I could into that turn and it didn’t feel right. The month I was there, I made so many incredible connections”.
With a proud Phelps looking on, his training partner Chase Kalisz won the final Sunday night, becoming the first swimmer to make the team for the Rio Games. He decided against a cortisone shot before the prelims in favor of massage and stretching.
“I just really, really love racing”, she said.
“He’ll be dealing with some level of pain management through the meet”, Marsh said.
Glory and crushing heartbreak live in close proximity to each other at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, but nobody expected Lochte, among the most decorated Olympians in history, to be the one lifting himself out of the water alone and shuffling off in defeat.
Defending Olympic champion Missy Franklin and two-time gold medalist Natalie Coughlin advanced to the semifinals of the 100 backstroke, which will be held Monday night.
Olivia Smoliga (59.16) and Kathleen Baker (59.36) were the top two qualifiers.
Coughlin was first woman to break 1 minute in the 100 back and won back-to-back gold medals in the event.
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“He trained with us a little bit in Colorado when we were up there at altitude”, Phelps said.
