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Michael Phelps to Swim 100 Fly and 200 Free at Charlotte Grand Prix

According to an article today from the Associated PressMichael Phelps has entered the 100 fly and the 200 free for the Charlotte Grand Prix meet, which runs from May 15th-18th in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This will be Phelps’ second meet back, after a successful Mesa Grand Prix following 18 months out of competition. In Mesa, he swam the 100 fly, where he placed 2nd in a top-5-in-the-world time, and the 50 free prelims, where he actually swam butterfly and didn’t final.

For Charlotte, Phelps won’t play the 50 fly game, and instead will shoot for a 100 fly/200 free double, according to his coach Bob Bowman.

“We were encouraged by his performances in Mesa and look forward to trying a 200 in Charlotte,” Bowman said in a text message to the AP.

The 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle both come on the second day of the meet in Charlotte (it’s a four-day meet, as compared to Mesa), so those hoping to grab tickets to see Phelps will have to shoot for Friday’s finals session.

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rjcid
10 years ago

Fly: 51.9

Free: 1.48.5…

Matt
Reply to  rjcid
10 years ago

MP 100 Fly: 51.6

MP 200 Free: 1:47.4

10 years ago

WAIT!! Did not someone say “mark my words, Phelps will swim the 200 free……..” yada yada? Who was it? Fess up!

mesaheat
10 years ago

Angel is swimming Charlotte too apparently….

dave
10 years ago

Mel, remember the ‘race of the century’200 free at Athens 04? It would be hard to find 3 better swimmers in one race than MP, Thorpe and PVDH but look at the mouth-watering prospect of Phelps, lochte, Cameron McEvoy and Agnel? even if MP doesn’t swim the 200 free at worlds or in Rio i think the other 3 will provide an equally good race of the century. McEvoy is looking to be a gold medal prospect in both the 100 and 200 free

Rafael
Reply to  dave
10 years ago

Locthe?

He won´t be a medal contender.. remember there are Sun and Park too on the same race..

dave
Reply to  Rafael
10 years ago

Lochte will be if he drops the 400IM and maybe 200 back. Anyway I reckon mcEvoy (19) will be hard to beat. saw his mid 47 swim in aussie champs to beat JM in the 100 free…bloody impressive

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  dave
10 years ago

I have to agree here BUT let’s see how they replicate all that in Pan Pacs with loaded Japanese and Usa squad .

Rafael
Reply to  dave
10 years ago

But anyway

Considerind those guys you put on the mix and not putting Sun and Park is strange.. Sun has 1:44:47 as his best and the best split ever on textile..

I would bet on Agnel Sun and Mcevoy. on that excatly order.. betting Sun by 2016 will go for shorter races to tackle Thorpe 400 to a 3:38

And to add.. there is also Horton for 2016 who could put up something good..

Lane 0
10 years ago

Hmm… Phelps could probably swim the 200 free individually in rio if he wanted to. He showed us in 2004 he wasn’t scared of the competition. Or he could just swim the relay where he is much needed against Australia. Personally I don’t think he has given up on the 200 fly. He is not one to back down, even against Le Clos. But he should swim what he wants to swim and have fun doing it

Steve Nolan
10 years ago

I might be misremembering, but I swear I saw an interview at Mesa where Katie Hoff mentioned not swimming at any more Grand Prix meets because they were all full or something?

If so – how he get there.

Scott
Reply to  Steve Nolan
10 years ago

I don’t recall hearing that about the GP meets, but seriously, this is Michael Phelps we are talking about here. While it may not be fair to everyone else, based on what he’s accomplished, if he wants in, it’s done. The meet and swimming are both better for it.

Joe
Reply to  Steve Nolan
10 years ago

Steve, I believe that he can get in the meet even after the meet has filled up because he was ranked in the top 50 in the world in an event in the previous 24 months.

Reply to  Joe
10 years ago

…Steve, Joe, Phelps/Bowman have a long-term relationship with the Charlotte GP (formerly known as the Ultraswim). They knew about his return to competition well before we (or anyone else) reported the comeback…. Moreover, except for the Austin GP in 2013, I’ve never seen a GP that wasn’t flush with swimmers. If elites need to compete in a USA Swimming GP, they compete…that’s why USAs provides the platform.

Jiggs
Reply to  Steve Nolan
10 years ago

I think The Hoff meant the hotels in Charlotte were all booked up and Santa Clara was too far away.
Are things still very much like donkey kong? Ha ha.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Steve Nolan
10 years ago

Makes sense, everybody! Y’all the best.

TheTroubleWithX
10 years ago

Hmm, would’ve thought he’d swim the 100 free before the 200.

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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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