Katie Ledecky swims in the women’s 800-meter freestyle preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, Friday, July 1, 2016, in Omaha, Neb.
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Michael Phelps booked a shot at a fourth straight 100m butterfly gold at the Rio Games Saturday with his third triumph at the US Olympic Swimming Trials.
The third-placed swimmer, David Nolan, finished fully three seconds behind Phelps, underlining the duo’s long dominance of the event.
Now, that’s out of the way, which means Phelps and Lochte will carry their longtime rivalry to one more event in South America.
“Yes, I think I can do well (against him) but also he is who he is and you got to give him that respect”.
Lochte was the top qualifier at 1 minute, 56.71 seconds, while Phelps took the second spot in 1:57.61.
“I’m confident we will do that again, we have a great plan in place and quite frankly we are going to have to do that if we are going to have the kind of Olympics we expect to have and want to have”.
But he might get in the pool one more time. Phelps came home in 26.94 to post the second-fastest time in the world this year. Ryan Murphy swims in a mens 200-meter backstroke semifinal at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, Thursday, June 30, 2016, in Omaha, Neb.
He was already slated to go as a member of the 200-metre freestyle relay.
“I didn’t fall flat on my face”, she said with a smile.
UF’s Elizabeth Beisel and Caeleb Dressel short of qualifying for Rio in additional events. Adrian won and Ervin was second.
This time, Phelps insists, it really will be his final Olympics. Ervin, heading to his third Olympics, tied for gold in the 50 at the 2000 Games. Yes, Phelps has asserted all week that his times have disappointed him, but there were hints on Saturday that he will change that in Rio.
“We’re going to have to be better in Rio”, said Jaeger, who was more than 6 seconds off his personal-best time.
The average age of the mens team is 23.9 years, with Anthony Ervin the oldest at 35.
Ledecky went out in world record pace but faded on the back half and finished in 8:10.32, a comfortable 10 seconds clear of her nearest challenger Leah Smith.
Franklin was far from the force she was in 2012, when her seven-event London slate produced four gold medals, but she qualified to defend her 200m backstroke gold and to swim the 200m free with runner-up finishes.
“I’m checking a box off, being able to get on the team”.
Joining Franklin is Maya Dirado, who won the final (2:06.90) after gaining a comfortable lead midway through the race.
Missy Franklin is trying to put a positive spin on her disappointing performance at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.
“I got seventh, that’s what happened”, Ledecky said.
Nathan Adrian, the 100 metres free victor, will be doubling up, blitzing to victory in the 50 free in 21.51 seconds ahead of Anthony Ervin and 2012 Olympic silver medallist Cullen Jones.
But that result – Ledecky’s only non-victory of the week – probably bodes the best for her results in Rio de Janeiro in August.
Phelps has locked up two individual events for Rio, having already qualified in the 200 butterfly.
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He failed to qualify in the 100 free and was shaken after friend Matt Grevers missed out in the 100 back as the defending Olympic champion.
