The Biedermann was right saying that Phelps didn't have enough training leading up to Rome. If you saw his 400 free race at Santa Clara, he was struggling. Of course, the lack of training hasn't affected his butterfly. Biedermann was just at the top of his game.
It wouldn't surprise me if Phelps lost, but people would blame the suit (isn't that crazy, speedo being "behind" the times with suits 12 months later!).
Again, I wouldn't bet against him with my own money, but Phelps has looked mortal with the exception of the 100 Fly. people are catching up to him.
There's always the 800 relay lead-off, if he was really feeling stung.....
To make a point, phelps should bust out an arena or jaked and lower biedermann's mark on that relay.
I have to admit that I forgot about Germany's plight at the last Olympics. That was the much BIGGER meet and they got hosed more than Phelps got hosed today. I automatically assumed that LZR v LZR or speedo brief v speedo brief PHelps would win; I am not so sure now.
I like what Hoch pointed out 4 pages ago: nothing motivates a swimmer like losing! ANd hey, Phelps now has a rival!
Very well said.
I disagree that Phelps has "no class." He just suffered a stunning defeat from a competitor who dropped four seconds in one year. Going from 1:46.00 (Olympics - 5th place) to the fastest the world has ever known by a full second (1:42.0) is...unbelievable. Biedermann is not a 17 year old who is still growing. He is a grown man at 23. 4% improvements (Biedermann's rough percentage improvement) are not in the cards for most 23 year old men.
Furthermore, the nature of this defeat forces Phelps to completely re-evaluate every aspect of his race, and subsequently his training. Biedermann had an unbelievable final lap (25.7 to Phelps' 26.5), normally the strongest point of Phelps' race. If Phelps cannot depend on his final lap to catch and outlast his rivals, he can only hope to get so far ahead that Biedermann cannot catch him. Except...Biedermann beat Phelps on the opening 50 meters too, and then beat him quite badly in the final 50 meters. Bidermann's defeat of Phelps was total, and Phelps really has no place to go, strategically, to win. He just has to somehow pray he is capable of a 1:41, hope Bidermann doesn't improve significantly, or, more likely, hope that Biedermann's race was a product almost solely of the suit, which Biedermann will not be allowed to wear in 2010.
The knowledge of a loss that is probably attributable to a suit that Phelps was not wearing is a bitter defeat indeed. Yes, it would have been nice to see Phelps be more congratulatory after the race, but he is human like everyone else.
German swimmer, I remember when we were suspect of all German swimmers using steroids. Did you notice his muscle structure.
Yes, it was suspiciously human.
