July 7, 2009. Ryan Lochte checks his time following the 400 IM prelims — 4:15.63 to Tyler Clary’s 4:11.29. The two would battle in the championship final with Clary holding the lead at the 300 — 3:07.49 to 3:08.32. Lochte powered home to win in 4:06.40 to Clary’s 4:06.96.
July 8, 2009. Michael Phelps checks the clock following a 51.17 prelim swim in the 100 fly. He would break the world record in the finals.
July 11, 2009. Eric Shanteau swims the final length of the 200 breaststroke prelims.
July 7, 2009. Elizabeth Beisel congratulates Elizabeth Pelton, age 15, on her 2nd place finish in the 200 IM which secured a spot on the USA World Championship team. Pelton would later qualify in both backstroke events and give up her 200 IM slot to focus on the backstroke.
The 200 IM opening created by Elizabeth Pelton was filled by third place finisher Ariana Kukors who would go on to break the world record and win the 200 IM at world championships.
July 10, 2009. Mary Desczena takes second place in the 200 fly, securing a spot on the USA World Championship Team. Descenza would break the world record in the prelims at the World Championships.
July 7, 2009. Chloe Sutton takes second in the 400 free. She had previously competed at World Championships in the open water swimming events. This was her first time qualifying in a “pool” event. Later in the meet she would win the 800 free.
July 9, 2009. Kasey Carlson, 17, takes second place in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.54) and wins a berth on the USA World Championship Team.
July 10, 2009. A rising Junior at Western Kentucky University, Claire Donahue wins the B final of the 100 fly. Donahue would win an Olympic Gold Medal as part of the 2012 USA 400 Medley Relay team.
July 10, 2009. Dave Walters places second behind Nathan Adrian in the 100 free going 48.17 to Adrian’s 48.00. At the World Championships, illness kept Walters from swimming in the 400 free relay, but later in the meet managed to swim the 100 free individual event, setting a new American Record of 47.33.
Many thanks to SwimSwam contributor and swimming photo artist Tim Binning of The Swim Pictures for creating this photo vault and capturing these images.