2016 U.S. Olympic Trials
- Sunday, June 26 – Sunday, July 3, 2016
- CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- SwimSwam Preview Links & Schedule
- Psych Sheets
- NBC Broadcast Schedule
The psych sheets for the US Olympic Trials were released today, and at the top of everyones list was to see what the Michael Phelps was entered in as he prepares for his fifth and final Olympic Trials. Phelps is entered in the three events he won at US Nationals last summer – the 100 fly, 200 fly, and 200 IM, along with the 100 and 200 freestyle.
The first three events were already a sure thing based on what he did last summer and what he has competed in throughout this season, but the freestyle events weren’t for sure on the docket. He hasn’t competed in an individual 200 freestyle in international competition since winning silver at the 2011 World Championships, and last swum the 100 individually at the 2014 Pan Pacs where he was off the podium in 4th. It’s unlikely we’ll see him make a charge in either free event individually, especially with his age.
However, his purpose for entering these events will be mainly for relay purposes, as he wants to show he is among the top four Americans in the event. Phelps did a similar thing at the 2008 Trials in the 100 free, swimming the prelims in a blazing 47.92 to ensure a relay spot and then subsequently scratched the semis. Phelps won the 200 free at the 2012 Trials before dropping the event for a lighter schedule.
There is of course no guarantee Phelps swims either of the freestyle events at Trials, but it seems likely he’ll swim at least a prelim in each to put up a time. With Phelps’ longtime coach Bob Bowman the Men’s Head Coach Phelps may have a bit of pull if his times don’t stack up with the top four from the final, but based off what he has done in the past he should be a shoo-in. In his Facebook live video on Sunday Phelps said “I might swim it [200 free], but I doubt it.”
If Phelps were to swim all of the events he’s entered in he would run into a few scheduling conflicts. The 200 free final and the 200 fly semis land on the same session on day 3, as do the 100 free semis and 200 fly final on day 4 and the 100 free final and 200 IM semis on day 5. The 200 IM final and 100 fly semis land on the same session on day 6, but that’s one double Phelps has completed many times throughout his career.
Phelps is the top seed in his three events from US Nationals last summer – 50.45 in the 100 fly, 1:52.94 in the 200 fly and 1:54.75 in the 200 IM. He is second to defending Olympic champ Nathan Adrian in the 100 free, entered with a time of 48.45 done at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships, and is 14th in the 200 free with his 1:48.21 from the Mesa Pro Swim Series in April.
im in 7th grad and my time for a 200 free is 2 min and 30 sec is that good
I’m still not sure he does the 200 Frs. From 14th seed he’d need to throw down a huge heat swim, otherwise he is doing a semi and running into his key event traffic. I reckon the fast time submitted (from 2014!) for the 100 suggests that’s his Frs relay focus. That said the GOAT can do anything but why jeopardise a 200 Fly message to Le Clos….
Le Clos is much more of a challenge in the 100 fly. And 1:48.2 is untapered. They are tapered now! ;D
Phelps is not fully tapered but he will put up faster times than he did last August if he is rested enough; that seems to be the biggest issue for him. He has been working harder than anyone and probably not getting enough UNINTERRUPTED sleep, with his new baby. I’m guessing the 200 Im and 200 Free will likely be his most impressive efforts and results at trials. Mel is predicting he will swim a 49 in the 100 fly, I think it will be a 50.1 and he’ll swim the 49 in Rio. We’ll know soon enough.
He said that when the baby wakes him up, he goes off to another room and just falls asleep. So that’s fine, (it’s not cruel, Boomer has his mom) Mel was predicting 49.9 for Rio. And 50.2 for trials.
Didn’t Phelps swim the 100 free at 2014 Pan Pacs? Doesn’t that count as an international competition?
Captain Awesome – good catch. I was thinking just about the 200 when I wrote that. It’s been updated accordingly.
He did. He says it’s 100% his last.
Eh, we’ve heard it before.
(But unlike last time, I actually believe him now.)
MP views on his last weeks of competition.
http://www.usaswimming.org/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=0&itemid=15717&mid=14491
“I’m a lot more relaxed to be honest. I am enjoying this experience a lot more leading up to these Olympics,” Phelps said. “I am just doing what I love. I’m never too uptight, and we always keep it really light in the pool, really light in workouts When it is time to swim, I need to put my game face on, and I’m ready to go.”
Thanks, I already heard the rest a billion times though :P. How he didn’t prepare for London, which I was surprised about.
Michael Phelps knows how to spout all the sports cliches after all these years. Boring.
What’s that supposed to mean.
Cliches: “putting my game face on, just doing what I love, ready to go, enjoying the experience.” He’s had media training to say those exact words.
The most honest thing I’ve heard Michael say is that “I was just going crazy and screaming after that 400 IM final in London.”
1:45 high. =)
Maybe, and maybe 1:44 high? I really don’t know though. He went 1:48.2 untapered. And 1:48.7 a couple days after altitude training right?