Top 2 are on for sure, then coaches discretion. His time last night pretty much assures him a spot in the relay. The 100 Back will be the race of the night, if not the meet. The 1-4 spots are a complete tossup. It will be awesome!
The Top 2 are not necessarily on for sure. John Piersma won the 200 Free at the 1996 Olympic Trials and beat Josh Davis (1:48.97 to 1:49.29) and they were the two selected to represent the USA in the 200 Free. Piersma swam a poor swim in the prelims of 1:50.XX and was not even selected to swim the prelims of the 800 Free Relay to be given another chance to prove himself. It probably mattered that he swam a poor 400 Free in the prelims and the coaches decided to swim others swimmers that made the top 6.
Another example of this is Lindsay Benko who was second in the 200 Free at the 2004 Olympic Trials but did not swim as fast in the heats of the 200 Free in the Olympics in Athens. Because the coaches thought she didn't swim as fast as expected in the individual event, she swam the prelims to prove that she could swim as fast as the trials swim. It didn't happen and she was off the final of the 800 Free Relay.
In 1996, Jenny Thompson was 7th in the 200 Free at Olympic Trials and did not qualify to swim in the relay per top 6 rule. The coaches can over rule that if they feel the relay would be faster with another swimmer on it. Jenny didn't even swim prelims and swam on the gold medal winning relay in the finals. In 2000, she didn't even swim the individual event at Olympic Trials but swam in the finals on the gold medal winning relay.
These decisions by coaches are not without controversey. I remember reading something about Christina Teutcher in 2000. She swam the 200 Free in the Olympic Trials and had a time that was faster than the others that were sent to swim the relay. She was told she did not have to swim the prelims to prove that she could swim the time that was done in the Olympic Trials and it would be best to rest up for the 200 IM individual event, which she took a bronze medal. As the story goes she found out 10 minutes before the 800 Free Relay final started that she would not be swimming the relay. She let her emotions speak in an interview with Swimming World about 6 months after the Olympics.
wait, is the 4x200 relay made up based on times or top 6 in finals? some combination of both?
Top 2 are on for sure, then coaches discretion. His time last night pretty much assures him a spot in the relay. The 100 Back will be the race of the night, if not the meet. The 1-4 spots are a complete tossup. It will be awesome!
The men's 800 free relay is going to be really really fast. They are going to go below 7:00 in 5 weeks!
I am glad that Lochte went ahead and gave the coaches the proof that they need to put him on the relay in Beijing. Clearly he deserves a spot on the relay. He probably would have been on the relay anyhow, but now we won't have a repeat of the minor Phelps/Hall controversy from Athens.
The 100 back will be great. My bet is the first titan will go down and Piersol doesn't make the team in this event.
I'm so bummed for Bal, more for him than Lochte since Lochte has other events. I'm sad for McGregory too. How crappy to have such great swims in prelims and semis then to get third AGAIN in finals.
HOWEVER - did I call the Peirsol thing or what?!?!
I agree with you about McGregory. That is completely heartbreaking to finish 3rd at trials three times. Bal's situation is tough too but McGregory... :(
I'm so bummed for Bal, more for him than Lochte since Lochte has other events. I'm sad for McGregory too. How crappy to have such great swims in prelims and semis then to get third AGAIN in finals.
HOWEVER - did I call the Peirsol thing or what?!?!
You did! :bow:
The 100 back will be great. My bet is the first titan will go down and Piersol doesn't make the team in this event.
I don't know about Piersol. I am rooting for him, though. He did have a good semi swim. Did I hear correctly that he is not shaved? However, it's going to be one heck of a race no matter who wins.
Olympic Relays
But remember Larsen Jensen is already on the Olympic Team for the 400 fr, if he has an amazing 200 free in practice at the Olympics they'll consider using him.
I don't think attempting this is even an option for him. IF he goes a 4:41 in the 400 he might be able to convince someone to atleast give him a shot in a time-trial, but considering that he has tonights competition to prove he deserves the spot this has got to be his only chance. If I was the coach and he told me that he wanted to time trial to earn a spot on the relay, I would ask him why he has been training for the 200 when the US needs him to swim well in the 1500 and 400.
SO who will be the odd guys out? I think Jensen and Beal.
