June 5th, 2016- Austin, Texas- There weren’t too many scratches on the final day of the Longhorn Elite Invite, but the biggest name on the deck did scratch the 200 Individual Medley.
Michael Phelps is off the heat sheets for Sunday’s finals in the 200 IM. He cruised to a 2:05.89 this morning and was sitting 5th heading into the final. That’s well off both his lifetime-best (1:54.16) and his best time since coming out of retirement (1:54.75 from last summer).
Based on his in-season swims earlier this year (1:57.6 at Winter Nationals, 1:57.9 at Mesa, 1:58.0 at Austin), it appeared Phelps would have plenty more in the tank to challenge for the win tonight, but it turns out the greatest of all-time won’t be competing Sunday night in Austin.
For a 30-year-old swimmer, swimming tonight’s race might have been less valuable than getting an early start on recovery and perhaps the trip back to Arizona State, especially with Olympic Trials just three weeks away.
Other scratches:
- Mimi Schneider, 200 butterfly, 2:17.39 – 8th.
- Will Glass, 100 back, 57.4 – 4th.
- Glen Cowand, 100 back, 56.84 – 8th.
- Elizabeth Bailey, 2:20.56- 7th.
- Jordan Surhoff, 2:21.39 – 8th.
Click here for live results of tonight’s finals.
I booked a hotel and drove the family three hours from Ft. Worth to watch MP swim the 200IM. I figured it is most likely my last chance to ever see him swim in person. I was pretty disappointed to find out he scratched 30 minutes before the start of the evening session.
Luckily, there were some other great performances and Missy Franklin autographed a swim cap for us which made the trip worth it. Also, I am a photographer so I got some pretty cool shots.
What we know:
1- Phelps was frustrated last year yet surprised himself at summer Nationals.
2- Bowman knows coaching and Phelps,
3- Phelps is a great racer and a big time swimmer,
What we don’t know:
1- Whether this is a replay of 2015 or Phelps has other concerns/problems.
I think Phelps will be competitive at OT more so at Rio. He may lighten his schedule because he wants to win, not just show up.
Phelps looks tired during his swim. Not fully tapering for the trials may not be such a good idea. Of course the ideal is to be fully tapered for Rio only given his age which takes a longer time to taper and requiring more rest. I believe he is in a dilemma now.
I think he should %90 taper, then work hard, then %100 taper for Rio.
Has anyone here ever actually tapered before? My body always responded like this at the start, producing my slowest swims of the season, especially following a huge training camp. That’s perfectly normal. Weeks later I’d be in the best shape of my life producing the fastest swims I could muster. And I was a pure sprinter who should be able to swim relatively fast at all times.
Phelps will be fine. These “experts” need to get over themselves.
I remember, I was swimming like really slow times in practice, then I got a virus for 2 weeks and couldn’t attend, right before the Regional Championships. I got mostly better, and I attend like 1 week, (I sucked the first 3 days) and make 2 best times. I trust the taper, I’d have smashed my times had I not gotten sick.
In all these comments and opinions, there has not been one statement regarding the fact that MP came to this meet directly from altitude training in Colorado Springs. I’m not certain how long he was “up”, but I believe it was at least 10 days – 2 weeks, maybe a little longer. Regardless, there are many physiological changes that occur during this change in altitude, coupled with workload issues from his training regimen in the Springs, that can easily “explain away” the unsatisfactory results in TX this past weekend.
If, as Bob has indicated in interview, they are in the beginning stages of taper (full, or otherwise, does it really matter, taper is taper) that factor can further exacerbate the… Read more »
Thank you for these thorough explanations related to physiological and maybe psychological changes after such training phase. Well done, sir!
I am much more satisfied now than before when I heard was “Let’s panic NOW!”, “Do NOT Panic YET!”
#UpvoteNotDownvote
The ”expected” times for Mr Phelps in every discipline he tries should be:
100m Freestyle: 48:00 – 48:50 (flat start) => 47:50 – 48:00 (flying start)
200m Freestyle: 1:45:00 – 1:46:00 (flat start) => 1:44:50 – 1:45:00 (flying start)
100m Butterfly: 50:00 – 50:50 (flat start) => 49:50 – 50:00 (relay)
200m Butterfly: 1:52:00 – 1:53:00
200m I.M: 1:54:00 – 1:55:00
Since (in my opinion) that is the range, every time above these must be considered a ”failure” and every time below these must be considered a ”success”.
As far as Mr Phelps’ s main rivals I expect the following:
100m Butterfly: Mr Schooling (50:00 – 50:50), Mr Le Clos (50:20 –… Read more »
Me likes this!
Creative and yet conservative and likely to be true!
#UpvoteNotDownvote
Too slow for Phelps on the 100 fly. And 200 Im, I predict he goes 153:5-8
I am really disappointed that Phelps scratched this. Was looking forward to the 1:58 swim our top experts were predicting this morning 🙁
If your dying to see a recent 1:58 here’s a 1:57.9 to hold you over:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4PFaLzQV-M
Thanks! Overall great swim, beautiful fly, very good breast, crawl a bit belabored compared to his other strokes.
I think that was his greatest swim of the season. Non tapered, and with a beard.
I’ve learned one thing in life that I know is certain. NEVER DOUBT THE GOAT.
my favorite comment
this phrase is way overused but imma say it anyways: sooo true! 😀