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.
The latest poll shows one of the strongest sentiments that SwimSwam readers have ever expressed in our SwimSwam Pulse series, presented by A3.
RESULTS
Who was the biggest surprise to make the U.S. Olympic Team?
- Melanie Margalis, 9%
- Jay Litherland, 83%,
- Townley Haas, 8%
Litherland lit up the U.S. Olympic Trials’ first day and set a tone for a meet of newcomers when he ran down the defending Olympic Champion Ryan Lochte in the men’s 400 IM to secure the second spot for Rio behind fellow Georgia Bulldog Chase Kalisz.
Litherland wasn’t completely out of nowhere – he was 3rd at the American collegiate (NCAA) Championships, and only one of the two guys in front of him at that meet entered this event, but with Josh Prenot having a very hot hand (as he would later demonstrate with an American Record in the 200 breaststroke); two Olympic gold medalist (Ryan Lochte and Tyler Clary) entered in the event, and Chase Kalisz as a two-time Worlds medalist in the event, Litherland’s career resume just didn’t stand out.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks whether or not the IOC’s decision on the Russian Olympic Team was the correct one:
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Hali Flickinger was a tad of a surprise to me. I feel if Katie McLaughlin was in her tip-top shape she would have made the OT in the 2fly. Molly Hannis was also a bit of a surprise—well not really, the surprise for me was I expected her to qualify in the 100breast, not the 200breast, the bigger was surprise was Micah Lawrence NOT making the team in that 200breast. Amanda Weir was a surprise imho for that 4x100free relay.
On the men’s side, I definitely saw Litherland in the top 5, but I agree, it was a bit of surprise for him to make the team. I personally thought Prenot would make the team in 4IM. Bentz wasn’t a… Read more »
If we talk about making the team, not just in individual, Ryan Held is by far the biggest surprise of these US trials in my opinion.
Much more than Litherland in the 400 IM who was in the 3 or 4 big favorites.
Held’s name was very rarely mentioned. Lauren Neidigh had not picked him in her top 12 for swimswam predictions. And I have never thought one second about him even for a relay spot.
His PB was 49.17 before Omaha.
He swam 48.26 to finish 3rd just behind Dressel at olympic trials.
Held swam a break-out meet.
Do you think he was even better than Bentz? Bentz was blocked by the IMers and breaststrokers in his best events, but pulled a rabbit out of a hat to qualify in an off event.
Held was an outside shot, but his path was pretty straightforward.
An off event? While it was some time ago, he went a 1:49.57 at the age of 17 to win Junior Nationals…
I don’t get why he was a surprise I cousins see lochte making it in the 400 IM I didn’t see haas as a surprise cause I had him pegged for a relay, him making it individually surprised me
Jay was a more of a surprise because practically everybody expected Lochte and Kalisz to be top 2. I agree that Ryan Held was more of a surprise but the article may be about individual spots.
Ryan Held?
Gunnar Bentz was the biggest surprise for me!
I hope we’ll get to see Jay swim the Olympic 400 IM final.
It’s the first night of the meet, so a strong performance could boost his teammates’ confidence.
Not a surprise at all to those who have followed his career, recent results and been cheering him on for years! Great training both in high school and college, great teammates, great family, great personality and great discipline = great results!