Rowdy can be such a ninny. Maybe the sponsors ask him to say stuff like that. They are paying for the programming afterall, and in turn he's got to cater to whatever spin they might want place on the Phelps hype.
Anyway, here's Lochte's take on his performance...swimswam.com/.../
Going for another 8 = 8 will be a much heralded topic in the news for all of the OLY. If he can do it,?????? , the relays again will be his biggest help.
I'm leaning towards Lochte. I just have this gut feeling he's worked harder and wants it more. I have no empirical data to support this. Like I said, it's my gut.
I don't know about his prior tapers but I doubt he tapered much for OT's. He said as much last night.
Speaking of this, did anyone else want to throw a brick through their TV when NBC mentioned this incident before the 200 fly finals? They acted like winning the race with filled up goggles was the greatest achievement in sports history. Either Rowdy or Dan Hicks said something to the effect of "...anyone else would have just thrown in the towel, but not Michael!" Oh come on, you're going to just give up in the Olympic finals--in an event you've held the world record in for years because your goggles filled up? Please!
Not really. For someone who's used to racing others, not being able to see the field would be exasperating. And it seems like there would be a lot of potential for swimming crooked in a long course pool. I don't see how it couldn't interfere with the fine points of a race...
Not really. For someone who's used to racing others, not being able to see the field would be exasperating. And it seems like there would be a lot of potential for swimming crooked in a long course pool. I don't see how it couldn't interfere with the fine points of a race...
I actually agree with Kirk. I rolled my eyes when Rowdy said what he said. I tell my little summer league swimmers to "just keep swimming" when their goggles fall off, for Pete's sake. And almost all of them do!
I think it's good he dropped the 200. First, the story would have been "can Michael get 8 golds again?", distracting from all the other potentially great stories. It would have added greatly to the pressure on him, which he probably doesn't want. Getting 8 in Beijing required Phelps to be at the top of his game (which he obviously was), but it also required a substantial amount of luck. 100 fly, 4x100 free relay, goggles in the 2fly, etc. It's unlikely his lucky stars would align so perfectly again. Second, given the worldwide competition in the 4x100 free relay, it's unlikely the US will repeat there. There would go the 8 golds and be a big disappointment, at least to NBC.
Dropping the 200fr probably makes for a stronger free relay, lets some other swimmers' stories emerge, and takes a good deal of pressure off Phelps, probably helping him in the other events.
I agree to some extent but isn't the story now going to be "why isn't he swimming the 200 free since he won it at the trials and since he's the fastest American ever?" Also, once that dies down, it will be "can he win 7 golds this time around?" So, it seems he will still have a lot of pressure no matter what. Also, I don't really see how this makes for stronger 800 free relay, unless you're thinking 3 less 200 races will allow him to be fresher for the relay.
Also, I don't really see how this makes for stronger 800 free relay, unless you're thinking 3 less 200 races will allow him to be fresher for the relay.
As I believe others have stated, the 200 free prelims are the same day as the 4x100 free relay. Dropping the 200 will keep him fresher for the relay.
Edit: Let me correct that slightly. It's semis, not prelims. On 29 July the men's 200 free semifinals run two events before the men's 4x100 free relay final. The men's 100 *** finals are sandwiched between the two, so there would not a lot of time to recover from the 200 before swimming the relay.
seems very calm standing in Phelps shadow, lighting the darkness with a certain twinkle in his eye.
it's really nothin new. peirsol was the king of back and lochte was able to eventually (or at least temporarily) overtake him in the 200. should be fun to watch!
