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Danas Rapsys Miscounts 400 Freestyle, Fends Off Grothe For Victory Anyway

2020 International Swimming League – Match 7

Thus far in ISL Season 2, Danas Rapsys has been a force to be reckoned with in the 400 freestyle, having won the event both times he has swum it; in Match 1 and Match 6. At Match 7, he went in as the favorite to win for Energy Standard but faced stiff competition in the form of DC Trident swimmers Zane Grothe, Velimir Stjepanovic. Both Grothe and Stjepanovic have already won the event this season for DC; Grothe at match 2 and Stjepanovic at Match 5. Faced with a strong DC contingent, Rapsys’ biggest threat in the event ended up being none other than himself.

Danas Rapsys had a solid front half of the 400, affording himself a strong lead in the at the 200 mark. His 1:47.45 split at half was more than 2 seconds ahead of the field, with Toronto’s Alexander Krasnych splitting a 1:49.47 as the second-fastest 200. Stjepanovic and Grothe flipped as third and fourth at the halfway point.

By the 300 mark, Rapsys had extended his lead to more than three seconds ahead of everyone else, more than 10 seconds faster than 8th place Leonardo Santos. It was looking good for Rapsys and likely that he would get a solid number of jackpot points for his efforts. That likelihood faded, however, when Rapsys reached the 350 mark of the race and seemingly believed that he had completed the race. Following a couple of seconds of recovery at the wall,  Rapsys realized (with the help of a screaming Energy Standard team on the pool deck) that he had not yet finished the race.

Men’s 400 Freestyle

After a 3/4 second rest, Rapsys pushed off the wall again and powered through the final 50 of the 400, getting his hand on the wall in a 3:40.83. That swim for him was the slowest by him for the season; at Match 1 he won the race with a 3:39.4 and at Match 6 he improved to a 3:35.5. The delay for Rapsys was almost fatal as Zane Grothe took full advantage of the slip-up and ripped through the last 50 of the race, nearly catching Rapsys. Ultimately Rapsys was able to out touch Grothe but only by 0.10. While he was able to maintain the win, the mistake likely cost him at least a few jackpot points. He still managed to take points from Santos but wasn’t fast enough to take anything from sixth place Danill Pasynkov or seventh place David Verraszto who scored 3 points for Toronto and 2 points for Iron, respectively.

Comparing Rapsys’ split with Grothe’s and with third place Velimir Stjepanovic, its clear that the few seconds he spent at the wall cost him a fair amount;

Danas Rapsys Zane Grothe Velimir Stjepanovic
1 24.67 25.82 25.47
2 27.27 28.07 28.03
3 27.62 28.11 28.19
4 27.89 28.39 28.66
5 27.76 28.43 28.64
6 27.30 27.93 28.19
7 25.78 27.61 27.68
8 32.54 26.57 27.00

Further, Rapsys’ 7th split lowered to a 25.78 compared to the 27s that he had been splitting, indicative of the fact that he thought it was his last 50.

Mistakes aside, Rapsys was still able to contribute winning points to Energy Standard’s Day 1 efforts in Match 7. Rapsys and his teammates secured themselves an early lead going into day 2 of the meet and are the favorites to win the meet;

TEAM SCORES AFTER DAY 1

  1. Energy Standard – 300 points
  2. Toronto Titans – 229 points
  3. Iron – 205 points
  4. DC Trident – 141 point

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Olympian
4 years ago

See?? Even the 400 is too long!
Let’s limit it to 200 next season and replace the boring distance event with 4×50 free and medley

And you’re lying if you tell me 4×50 wouldn’t be cool!

Tuppeware
Reply to  Olympian
4 years ago

Of course it would be cool.
It would also have the effect that there would be no good reason for a team to have anything other than sprinters and 4 IMers. People like grothe and leah smith would be out of a job.

Walter
Reply to  Olympian
4 years ago

Seriously, can’t tell you how boring I find watching 50s. Except if Anthony Ervin is involved.

Swammer
Reply to  Walter
4 years ago

Ervin swims his 50 like a 400 he tries to negative split.

tea rex
4 years ago

I have inside knowledge that Katie Ledecky has just been swimming 200 meters, then setting a hologram to keep going for the rest of the race. Looks like Rapsys has to figure out the software still.

Justhereforfun
4 years ago

Does anyone have the video for this

4 years ago

Lap counter from the 1980’s needed! It happens to everyone in their career …maybe not at that level that much but I do remember hearing of a famous 1500 swim where they did an extra 100 and still broke a record…or a saw a guy on my team stop at the 75 of a 100 free…not the brightest of all bulbs…but funny none the less…he was a sprinter….jk

N P
Reply to  Jason Zajonc
4 years ago

Yes, that 1500 was at the first World Championships in 1973! 15-year-old Australian Stephen Holland versus American Rick DeMont (who had just become the first man under 4 minutes in the 400). Holland was the WR-holder coming into the race actually (at 15:37), and both men flipped at the 1500 under the record (Holland with a 15:31 and DeMont at 15:34). DeMont stopped at the 1600, but Holland had to be “dragged from the water” at the 1650 by his teammates.

Mrs. Swimming
4 years ago

Can’t be a great feeling for a guy to split 32 seconds on the last 50 of his 400 free and still jackpot you, condolences to Santos.

Andreas
4 years ago

Where will he stop next time?? 200, 300?

Brownish
Reply to  Andreas
4 years ago

450

Sean S
Reply to  Brownish
4 years ago

The Brooke Forde Route.

Khachaturian
4 years ago

We need more events like this to happen so we can make a meme compilation

Peter sacca
Reply to  Khachaturian
4 years ago

He didn’t miss count he just took a breather on the wall

TheSwimSuitGuy
Reply to  Khachaturian
4 years ago

I’ve made 3 videos taking the Mick out of certain isl happenings

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLztiVM3ntrktHeLMbDNCGeJAKeMviToig

decent Bubbles
Reply to  TheSwimSuitGuy
4 years ago

great job!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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