SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side, or you can find the poll embedded at the bottom of this post.
Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers to predict the top men’s 200 breaststroker in the United States by the end of this summer’s season:
RESULTS
Question: Who will be the top American M200 breaststroker by the end of this summer?
- Josh Prenot – 39.9%
- Kevin Cordes – 31.0%
- Andrew Wilson – 13.6%
- Other – 11.0%
- Nic Fink – 4.4%
Nearly 40% of respondents picked Josh Prenot, who has the fastest career time of the bunch, though he fell to 4th last season and sits just 5th this season.
Prenot is, in fact, the fourth-fastest performer of all-time in the event with his 2:07.17 from U.S. Olympic Trials in 2016. But Prenot had a rough 2017 season, missing the World Championships team entirely and regressing to 2:08.72 in this event. So far this year, he’s only been 2:10.15, checking in behind the three others in our poll and even one new face.
Kevin Cordes has been a consistent presence at the top of this event for the past four and a half years. He led the nation last summer (2:07.41) after sitting second to Prenot in 2016, and Cordes has been the top American 200 breaststroker every other year stretching back to 2013. He received about 31% of the votes, trailing Prenot by about 50 votes.
The current national leader is Andrew Wilson, who went 2:08.52 earlier this spring. He was the second-fastest American last summer as well. Wilson nabbed 13% of the votes, while only 4% went to Nic Fink, the consistent-if-not-flashy performer who has been among the top 3 Americans every year except 2016, when he faded a bit to 5th.
As has been a trend in these type of polls, the ‘other’ category pulled in a fair amount of votes. Popular support seems to be growing for 18-year-old Daniel Roy, who sits third nationally this season after a 2:09.73 in Indianapolis. Other top contenders are Will Licon (2nd nationally this year, 2:09.47), 18-year-old Reece Whitley (2:10.82 last summer) and even World IM champ Chase Kalisz, who sits fourth among Americans this season.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which extends our latest series of polls to the world, asking for predictions on the top women’s 100 freestyler worldwide by the end of this summer’s season:
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The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner
Daniel Roy’s poppin’ a 2:06.99 at the end of the season
You should do men’s 200 fly national rankings next (Conger, Kalisz, Clark, Shields, etc.)
I’ve always thought that Kevin Cordes had the potential to be the WR holder in the 200 breaststroke.
The men’s 200 breaststroke is one of the most closely contested events in swimming. At the final in Rio, all 8 swimmers were within 1 second. The winner came from in Lane 8, unusual in an Olympic final. I don’t there was ever such a close race in a 200 final at the Olympics.
Josh Prenot needs his speedy last 50 to stay ahead of the pack.
I remember Cordes throwing down a 2:07.8 in prelims of 2014 Nationals and thinking it would be world domination from there. It’s a bit surprising to think that despite all his growth as an athlete and 1.5 second drop in the 100 (he was a 1:00.01 in the 100 at that point), he’s only dropped 0.4 in the 200.
Agree on it being a tight field at Rio – strangely, for the women as well.
Will Licon looks really good long course for the first time and Texas always tapers pretty well. I really hope this is his year
My only complaint is that these guys swim so slow in season. Its hard to tell at this point is going to be 2:07 later this summer. I am going with Wilson to be top 2 and the other spot I have no idea.
Don’t make Daniel Roy angry. He always takes it out on the bigger kids. Look out.
My vote is that Daniel ends up 2nd. Pure racer. Very good at not losing.
Gotta love Prenot
After this weekend my second spot is to Will Licon