2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS
- Sunday June 26th-Sunday July 3rd, 2016
- Century Link Center – Omaha, Nebraska
- Friday-Sunday – Prelims – 11:00 am EDT Finals – 7:45 pm EDT
- SwimSwam Preview Links & Schedule
- NBC Televison Coverage Schedule
- Psych Sheets
- Friday night psych sheets
- Live results
The American backstroke tradition has been strong for years, but this year, the entire American backstroke squad has seen a roster change. Four separate American men medaled in the backstroke events at the 2012 Olympic Games. None of the four swimmers will compete in London.
Below see the Olympic backstroke medalists from the 2012 London Olympics:
- Matt Grevers: gold, 100 back (52.92)
- Nick Thoman: bronze, 100 back (53.48)
- Tyler Clary: gold, 200 back (1:56.24)
- Ryan Lochte: silver, 200 back (1:56.36)
While Thoman didn’t compete in this year’s Olympic Trials, the other four either missed their Olympic spot or scratched the event.
This week, both Grevers and Clary missed the team entirely. Grevers finished third in the 100 back (52.76), fifteenth in the 100 free (49.69), fourteenth in the 200 back (2:00.03). Clary finished eighth in the 400 IM (4:15.41), eighth in the 200 free (1:48.11), sixth in the 200 fly (1:57.42), and third in the 200 back (1:55.33).
Lochte scratched the semifinals of the 200 back to focus on the 200 IM, a strategy that landed him a spot on the Rio Olympic team in the 200 IM with 1:56.22.
The foursome have passed on the torch to Ryan Murphy (100 back: 52.26 / 200 back: 1:53.95), David Plummer (100 back: 52.28), and Jacob Pebley (200 back: 1:54.77).
US has 4 of the top 5 world rankings in men’s 100 back right now… Amazing. And also so sad for MG 🙁 ranked 4th in the world but can’t go to Rio!!
Also world times have improved drastically since London, it’s scary. MG’s winning time of 52.92 would only place him 5th in the world currently and NT’s bronze time of 53.48 would only place him 16th in the world currently.
Rio is going to be exciting
Oh boy…
First paragraph, last sentence ” none of the four swimmers will compete in RIO.” Times are wrong. Placing is wrong for Thoman and Lochte. And in the following sentence, it’s the “other THREE either missed…”. Clary was also 7th in the 200free this week.
Come on. Check your work.
Agreed. Way too many mistakes.
Also Lochte scratched the 200 back all together. He didn’t scratch semi finals
Nick Thoman got silver in 2012
The men’s backstrokes are always the best and the worst of it at Trials. The US is always so absurdly good that 3rd place is going to be an Olympic finals time for someone who doesn’t go. This time it is particularly rough to see Grevers and Clary suffer 3rds. Both guys have done it all including Olympic gold, but it is bittersweet now in the moment.
Until the interview I had no idea Pebley had lost a parent when he was a young boy. It’s simply great to see him have his moment to be an Olympian.
the times are wrong…
So are the medals…
Time for Clary to announce his retirement!
He already did
Correction: 0 of 4 MALE backstrokers. Not giving up on Missy
Or Beisel!