That was really a pretty ugly relay by the Americans and they need to thank Ricky Berens and Ryan Lochte big time. Phelps led off poorly and Walters swam a terrible race. His second 100 was seven seconds slower than his first. I didn't think Lochte looked great, but he did exactly what he needed to do and he has to be exhausted after the schedule he's had. I thought Berens looked great.
That was really a pretty ugly relay by the Americans and they need to thank Ricky Berens and Ryan Lochte big time. Phelps led off poorly and Walters swam a terrible race. His second 100 was seven seconds slower than his first. I didn't think Lochte looked great, but he did exactly what he needed to do and he has to be exhausted after the schedule he's had. I thought Berens looked great.
It was an ugly relay. I think guys knew it too judging from their reaction at the finish. Walters just plain died and Lochte worried me at his halfway mark... but he really got up and raced the last 50.
Except for Berens' solid swim, that relay was ugly. Walters died like I do at the end of a 200. Lochte scared me for 150m, but when I saw his underwater kicking after the 150 turn and his first 3 strokes, I thought he was home free.
Notwithstanding his comment to Andrea afterward (something to the effect of "I have no idea -- tried to keep my head down and swim" when asked what he did to hold it together on the last 50), Ryan impresses me as a guy who really knows how to swim his own race. He obviously knew to keep enough in the tank to finish that last 50 strong. I thought that was especially impressive coming after the 200 back and with all the pressure from relatively weak legs from Phelps and Walters.
Berens could rescue Michael Phelps and a basketfull of kittens from terrorists at this point, and he would still be known as the guy with the wardrobe failure in Rome in 2009.
so who is in the final line up tonight for the mens 4x200?
Phelps, walters, Lochte and ??
Vanderkaay, Berens, someone else I am not thinking of????
I think the WR will go down tonight but I would love to see Phelps as leadoff swimmer and go under 1:42!!
swimming is between 18:00-19:30 my time, so I'll have to pick up something to keep my two girls happy for 90 minutes so I can watch all the fun races tonight!
