Classic Matchup Set for 400 IM or reign over?

The Olympics are here and the first huge event for the USA is the matchup of the Olympic hero Michael Phelps and rival Ryan Lochte…the problem is the swimmers are not exactly where we expected them to be!

The two favorites coming in to the heats had also swam the world’s fastest times this year with Lochte swimming 4:07:06 and Phelps 4:07:89 at this years Olympic trials in Omaha. Phelps also happens to own the World and Olympic record at 4:03:84, set in ’08. The Olympics featured 5 heats and the top 8 fastest times advancing to the finals. This was anticipated to be the “Splash of the Titans” but this morning’s heats may have thrown a wrench in to the build up. Phelps is known to be a “racer” in which he wants to beat his competitors before worrying about the clock. In this case his heat included 2008 silver medalist in the 400 IM Laslo Cseh, so he expected to be pushed. Phelps swam a common 4:13:33, which to that point was 3rd fastest behind heat 3 Winner Hagino (Japan) and heat 3 runner-up Pereira (Brazil).

The final heat featured American Ryan Lochte and 7 other swimmers. Lochte finished 2nd behind South Africa’s Le Clos, who swam a 4:12:24, 2 seconds behind Japans Hagino. As the swimmers neared the final turn Phelps surely was time watching. The first 5 in heat 5 swam a faster time than Phelps. He was able to hold on to the final spot of the Finals. He will be on an outside lane which will push him to swim through others wake. Most swimmers hold back a little during the heats but Phelps almost held too much, he was a little surprised the heats went as fast as they did. The Final is set for 7:30 London Time, 2:30 EST time, and will replay on NBC Primetime that starts at 8 tonight.

Tags: 400IM Final, Hagano, Lochte, olympics, phelps

Category: College Sports