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Matt Grevers 2016 Olympic Games Focus: GMM presented by SwimOutlet.com

Gold Medal Minute presented by SwimOutlet.com

Matt Grevers, the defending 100 backstroke Olympic Champion, has stiff competition at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha.  The first weekend in June, Grevers watched nervously as Ryan Murphy dropped a 52.7 in Santa Clara and David Plummer clocked a 52.4 in Indianapolis.  Grevers was a 53.4 in Austin, which, for him, was an improvement over his June 2012 pre-trials performance, a 54.6.

Predicting the 100 backstroke times in Omaha is tough.  I’m a big Ryan Murphy fan, and his stock’s high after the 2016 Men’s NCAA Championship performance, the monstrous 43.49 100 yard back and 1:35.73  200 yard back.

I’m picking: 

David Plummer third in 52.29

Ryan Murphy 2nd in 52.19

Grevers first in 51.8

I know, that’s fast for Grevers, but I think his best time is captured in Omaha, and in world record pace.

CONFESSION: I’m nervous about my picks after Plummer’s 52.4 in Indy.  What do you think?

You can follow Matt Grevers on Twitter here.

See recent Gold Medal Minute videos here:

This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.

TYR Sport video is courtesy of TYR, a SwimSwam partner. 

Matt Grevers‘ workout video is courtesy of his manager David Arluck.

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Monica
8 years ago

Maybe all 3 of them can make the team! Grevers and Plummer in the 100, Murphy in the 200.

Dru
Reply to  Monica
8 years ago

Grevers also has a shot at the 4 x 100 free relay team

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Dru
8 years ago

He will try to get on it for sure

Lane Four
8 years ago

Am I such a bad guy for hoping for David Plummer wins a seat to Rio?

Irish Ringer
Reply to  Lane Four
8 years ago

No, not for that reason 🙂

Lane Four
Reply to  Irish Ringer
8 years ago

LOL LOL LOL

Irish Ringer
8 years ago

Plummer 52.0
Murphy 52.1
Grevers 52.2

Stephen
8 years ago

With the 100 Fly running a semi-close second, this is the race I am most excited to see. I can’t wait to have the opportunity to witness this in person. As previously mentioned, nothing would be shocking in this race, which makes it so intriguing.

Predictions (For what a toss-up is worth)
1st: Murphy: 51.8
2nd: Grevers: 52.0
3rd: Plummer: 52.1

If this were the case, then Grevers would need to thank his long frame for the touch….

Ps. I think Jaboc Pebley will be sub 53 in this also, he’s been on a roll. Crazy to think that a sub 53 potential guy isn’t in the conversation….

Stephen
Reply to  Stephen
8 years ago

Jacob*

ERVINFORTHEWIN
8 years ago

This is the hardest of all races to predict the 2 who will go through . TOUGH , Tough , tough . They are all 3 incredible right now .
Who wins in Onaha ? have no clue at all . I will be sad for sure for the third left home .
Usa is monstreous on backstroke this year – they have the possibilities to win both races in Rio .
Omaha starts in exactly 10 days – can’t wait to see the 3 of them battle it out .

Sven
8 years ago

That last part reminded me of Hulk throwing Loki around at the end of the first Avengers movie. I’m glad he’s such a nice guy, cause Grevers could do some serious damage if someone pissed him off enough.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Sven
8 years ago

what a physical monster !!!

Pkok
8 years ago

I am my sure this has ever happened, but what if there is a tie for 2nd? Is there a swim off to make the team?

Admin
Reply to  Pkok
8 years ago

The exact procedure is at the end of this comment. Basically, there’s a swim-off at a time and placed agreed to by the athletes and the National Team Director.

I don’t believe it’s ever happened for the Olympics, but it has happened for a spot on the 2011 World Championships roster (warning: old article from The Swimmers Circle): http://swimswam.com/jones-v-schneider-the-showdown-in-charlotte/

Tie in Same Event. In the instance where there is a tie between two swimmers in
the same Event for first place, both swimmers will be classified under Priority #1.
In the instance where there is a tie between three or more swimmers for first
place in the same Event or where there is… Read more »

Bad memory
Reply to  Braden Keith
8 years ago

Didn’t something like this happen in the 50 in ’08 or ’12 between jones and garret Webber-gale?? I remember jones had a bad finish and touched the pad really low. Could have also been for a relay spot in the 100. Does anyone remember what I am taking about?

Paul
8 years ago

What does FINA do if all 3 break the world record, and a whoever is in 3rd breaks a world record and can’t go to the olympics. Do they reconsider the 2 person per-event per-country rule? For track and field there has never been such a rule. For many other sports, much more than 2 go. Why is swimming still this way?

dru
Reply to  Paul
8 years ago

track is 3 per nation in individual events (and 1 team per for relay events like swimming)..

and there are limits in other sports (for example basketball, the qualified countries are only permitted to submit 1 team per)

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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