USRPT vindicated?

USRPT was vindicated quite a long time ago. Some folks are just stubborn. No, it does not work for every event or every swimmer, but it is a highly successful training strategy in many situations. 

I basically agree with you, but I still hear people say something like “USRPT can’t be that great, nobody has used it and gone to the Olympics”

I think the label "USRPT" label is over-used and dumb.  If you hear most coaches talk about their training programs these days, they emphasize race-pace training, whether it's ultra-short or not.  Even Ledecky talks about doing a lot of pace 100s for her 1500, whereas, back in the 80s, us distance swimmers did a lot of 500s, 1000s, 3000s at much slower than race-pace.

My contention is that EVERY swimmer who made the Olympic Team (and, more broadly, Olympic Trials) is focused on race-pace training.

This is the first thread I have seen regarding the current Olympic Trials.  I have been glued to the TV every night, including during Wave 1!  I was so excited to see Allison Schmitt squeak in for another Olympics!

Is it my imagination, or are many of the backstrokers entering the back of their hand before turning it for the pull (instead of pinkie finger first)? 

Another observation:  That gal in Lane 1 of the 1500 meter race sure was an exhibitionist, wasn't she?  She did the same thing during Wave 1, and it was an obnoxious display of attention-getting behavior, in my opinion.  It's too bad the cameras focused more on her rather than the other swimmers in the final race.  

Allison did not "squeak" onto the team. Squeak is finishing 7th in the 200 and getting onto the relay as a prelims swimmer because someone gave up their slot or DQed. Alison finished a solid 2nd in the 200 fr with a solid swim. She will get to swim the individual 200 fr and the 4x200 FR in Tokyo, the latter probably in the finals session. This will be her 4th Olympics. Quick quiz: Name other swimmers who have been on 4 Olympic teams. Phelps and, um, er, ah,. yea, the list is pretty darn short. Allison is awesome!

Don't be dissin' Sierra Schmidt's pre-race dancing either. She has found a playful way to manage pre-race jitters. I've met her and her family quite few times. She is a very nice young woman, (who does some truly brutal sets in the pool) and her parents are humble and generous.

I do race pace oriented workouts and occasional USRPT sets, but I am not a USRPT swimmer. Real USRPT is very consistent and very regimented. Almost every elite is doing race pace, Michael Andrews is the only USRPT swimmer I know of to make the Olympics

Phelps, Lochte, Dara Torres, I think Amanda Beard and Jenny Thompson made 4?  Might be a couple others.  And Schmitt should get at least a relay 100 swim tonight too!

You are absolutely right when you state it in those terms.  I meant it in a narrower context; literally, the margin by which she placed 2nd rather than 3rd in that specific 200 race.  She absolutely was solid and earned her way to a relay slot; no question about it!  I am so happy for her!

I know this is her 4th Olympics-- one of the reasons I really wanted to see her make the team.  I love seeing Olympians who dedicate themselves year after year for so many years!  Remember Dara Torres at 45?  WOW!  

Regarding Sierra, I don't know her like you do, so I only have what I saw to go on.  It didn't leave a good impression on me.  I'm entitled to my opinions!  If she is "a very nice young woman," that's great!

Vindicated? Maybe. It certainly is working well for one swimmer though it is telling Michael Andrew is having trouble in the last 50 of each 200. The old idea that 200 swimmers need to train 300/400s may still hold a lot of water, so to speak. Then again this is the US Olympic Trials and it's a one-of-a-kind sort of meet in which there is so much pressure of all kinds I think it's hard to judge something from a few races. 

Asked one of the girls' coaches, who was a backstroker at UT, about that.  He said that for the 100's, you see that because tempo is critical, and they have to be strong enough to do it.  Not many are.  The 200's look very different.