Phelps

He probably needs a challenge by changing events. Who knows, this could help him to keep swimming til 2012. All I know is that Thorpe can't handle Phelps territory(the IMs) but I think that Phelps could beat Thorpe in the 200 and 400 free. When is Phelps goings to be on MTV Cribs, I think that he has enough celebrity to be on that show. They have all these unknown Nascar and skateboarders guys on there.

Steph, I didn't mean to imply that the 200 back was Phelp's event. I just meant that it was an event he swam, and I wouldn't consider it to be a new event for him. Aaron owns that event! (YEAH AARON!) I agree that he's probably working on the 400 free, though I think this kid could be great at any event he wanted to swim. I think it'd be hysterical if Phelps went up to Thorpe and Hackett and said, "Hi, I'd like to take over your event now." (I'd also give Thorpie more credit it the 400 than Hackett - Hackett owns any distance beyond that though.) I also think that Thorpe is an amazing swimmer in his own right and will prove to be more than enough of a challenge to Phelps. Thorpie isn't going to just roll over and let Phelps take over the 400. He may be out for the next year, but he's going to come back and come back strong. I have no doubt in my mind that he'll be right there in the 400 in Beijing.

Originally posted by aquageek I bet he is considering chandeliers or quarters, two events he seems to excel at these days. Come on, geek, move into the 21st century. Beer Pong is where it's at these days :)

here's where you can see the Preliminary Psych Sheet (click on the link up top) www.utexas.edu/longhornaquat...HostedMeets.htm here's where you can read results www.tsc.utexas.edu/.../index.htm check out the thread ande started (American Short Course Championships)- that's where i got the links... and... having seen michael phelps swim in person (lucky enough to catch the swim with stars when they stopped here!), i can say that even though breaststroke is his weakest stroke, he could still beat the snot out of a lot of breaststrokers! ;)

Ryan Lochte is having an amazing year. I think he'll be the big thing in Beijing. Kyra, I just read that article announcing his events before I came over here. How funny ... I love being proved wrong about what events people will swim. Can anyone provide a link to the actual meet site. I can't find it. Thanks!

The Texas swimmers, and most of the really fast swimmers, use meets like the American Short Course champs as an opportunity to get up and race against fast competition. It's always fun to swim "off" events and quite often you learn a little bit more about how to race your good events in the process. At a meet last summer, I had the pleasure of watching Walker, Peirsol, Dusing, Davis, Lochte, and Crocker race a 200 free and even had the pleasure of getting spanked by Crocker in the 100 fly and Piersol in the 200 fly. They compete on a different level from the rest of the people around and a BIG meet like the ASCC's this weekend is the equivalent of a practice meet for them. No pressure, just a chance to get up and race.

Originally posted by SwiminONandON A breaststroker, really? Obviously the kid is dang fast in all four strokes but *** is definitely his weakest. Of course I am sure he works it all the time to get better at the IM, but I would be surprised if he started swimming the 200 ***, not that I don't think he couldn't. Be surprised! He just announced his schedule for the American Short Course Championships and the newest edition is the 200 ***!! The other surprising thing...he's not swimming either of the fly events. www.freep.com/.../phelps1e_20050301.htm ~Kyra

There is no e on the end of that URL: www.freep.com/.../phelps1e_20050301.htm Phelps' schedule: Thursday -- 200 freestyle and 400 individual medley; Friday -- 200 breaststroke; Saturday -- 100 free and 200 IM. He's also scheduled to swim the opening leg of Club Wolverine's 400-free relay Thursday with teammates Klete Keller, Ben Michaelson and Chris Thompson.

A sidenote on the Phelps/Peirsol 200 Back issue...they should both look out for Ryan Lochte, who recently broke Peirsol's 200y back American record at the SEC championships!

Try www.utexas.edu/longhornaquatics/swim/HostedMeets.htm There should be some great races. 20 guys have the exact same time in the 200 Free (1:45.19)!;) And now that Phelps is 19, have the Michigan Masters signed him up? If not, I'm sure one of the superteams will offer him a sweet deal.