By John Lohn
BEIJING, China, August 10. MICHAEL Phelps is off and rolling.
A day after setting an Olympic record in the preliminary session of the 400 individual medley, Phelps set a world record in the final, collecting what could be the first of eight gold medals at these Olympic Games. Phelps, of course, is trying to break the Olympic record of seven gold medals in one Games, a feat turned by Mark Spitz at the 1972 Games in Munich.
Phelps expected to get a major challenge from teammate Ryan Lochte, but he pulled away from the field on the breaststroke leg, then dropped the hammer on the freestyle leg en route to a time of 4:03.84, more than a second faster than his world mark of 4:05.25 from the U.S. Olympic Trials. It was an indication that this week will be nothing short of spectacular for Phelps.
Splitting 54.92 for the butterfly leg, Phelps was just ahead of Lochte after the backstroke, his 1:56.49 split better than the 1:56.69 by Lochte. Phelps opened up his lead at the 300-meter mark, where he was timed in 3:07.05. Where the breaststroke formerly was the weak point for Phelps – if such a thing can be said – Phelps used the breast to his advantage. He capped his swim by powering through the freestyle.
Lochte, who gave Phelps all sorts of problems at Trials, faded toward the end of the race and wound up with the bronze medal, behind the silver that was captured by Hungary's Laszlo Cseh. Lochte was timed in 4:08.09, with Cseh setting a European record of 4:06.16. Still, that time is eons behind the world of Phelps.
Taking fourth was Italian Alessio Boggiatto (4:12.16) with fifth going to countryman Luca Marin in 4:12.47. The field was rounded out by Hungary's Gergo Kis (4:12.84), Canada's Brian Johns (4:13.38) and Brazil's Thiago Pereira (4:15.40).
Results: 2008 Olympic Games - Swimming
Premium Members - Search More About: Michael Phelps
Reaction Time Comments
August 9, 2008 I said a 4:04 and Superman did me one better! And congrats to Laszlo and Ryan for their medal swims! Way to go, gentelmen. Submitted by: paddles
August 9, 2008 omg i seriously thought lochte had him when they were even going into the breast, but phelps went nuts. idk what happened to lochte, but i dont think he swam his race adding 2 seconds to his PB. It obviously looks like phelps wasnt fully tapered at trials Submitted by: WUswimmer
August 9, 2008 Wow, all I can say is wow. This should be a fun meet to watch given he wasn't fully rested and tapered at trials and he did pretty well there. Lochte took it out too hard but it is still his second fasted time. Submitted by: teamwiess
August 9, 2008 You guys already saw the race???? I'm Southern California and have to wait until 8pm pst. I can't wait! And I hope that Superman gets the USA team flowing to some phenomenal swims! Submitted by: paddles
August 9, 2008 All I can say is that the morning finals really have its effect --- Phelps, Cseh and Lochte are the only ones who bettered their times from last nite. The others are way slower. Submitted by: chris
August 9, 2008 Of course its going to have an effect on people cause its a completely different format from what people have pretty much done their whole lives, but as phelps said, "it doesn't matter when we are swimming, if you can't get up and swim fast at a olympic finals even if it is in the morning, then you don't belong in the final." He def. showed he is ready to swim otherworldly fast anytime anywhere Submitted by: WUswimmer
August 9, 2008 Paddles, I hear that a lot of people are upset about NBC always delaying coverage in the States.... It is absolutely lame that NBC is doing it..... I'm in Seoul and the Armed Forces Network (AFN) is good enough to show it all live..... I'm also watching live on the Korean stations as well.... BOY DID THEY GO CRAZY FOR TAE HWAN PARK IN THE 400FREE!!! :-) Submitted by: Hodori88
August 9, 2008 I still have another two hours to wait!!!!! This is INSANE!!!!! We have to go through men's gymnastics before we get to the swimming! Submitted by: paddles
August 9, 2008 yeah paddles both of the 400IMs were RIDUNKULOUS. Be ready to be shocked and in awe Submitted by: WUswimmer
August 9, 2008 Thanks, WU! LOL Let me see....Still have ANOTHER hour to wait! Submitted by: paddles
August 9, 2008 Paddles: swimming started around 10pm EST for us. Sorry tom hear about the time difference for you. Submitted by: Park528
August 10, 2008 Lochte said he took it out hard on purpose; it was a gutsy gamble even if he failed. But given PHelps superhuman performance he was damned if he did or didn't. I think he still has a shot at Phelps in the 200 IM though aftet this the prospect is dimming. Submitted by: liquidassets
August 10, 2008 I think phelps will be beat Lochte pretty soundly in the 200IM since lochte has the 200 back right before this against phelps. I know he will probably have more than enough time to warm down and such, but i just don't see it happening. Submitted by: WUswimmer
August 10, 2008 I love that both Phelps and Lochte, esspecially Lochte, complain about the 400 IM. Phelps said that swim might have been his last 400 IM. I'm with them both, that event sucks! 4:03.84 is amazing, I wish your average American sports fan could understand! They better fix the National Anthem they are going to be playing it a lot! Submitted by: PhatMatt
August 10, 2008 Summer Sanders didn't enjoy the event either. Submitted by: Park528
August 10, 2008 Oh, if the 2 IM is right after 2-Back, than yeah, Lochte is screwed. But assuming he can rehydrate after his gastroenteritis; he still has a shot at beating Peirsol, at least.
The 400 IM is one of those events I'm proud of after I swim it, and happy if I did a good time, of course, but during the last 200 I HATE it!! I can't imagine how much it hurts at that level...it's true the American public has no idea how amazing Phelps,Rice,Coventry were... Submitted by: liquidassets
August 10, 2008 Ako; I agree, and so far the prelims themselves were the greatests fields in history. It can only get better. I also agree with WU Swimmer; it could go either way, but on paper I'm giving the nod to France too even if Phelps breaks the WR which I think is more likely than not; however, I think it's also possible that he could break it but still get beaten by one of the other guys! It will come down to heart, guts, who's tired, miniscule mistakes, etc. I hope Jones didn't leave it all in the pool just trying to get onto the final relay; that could be a factor. Submitted by: liquidassets
August 10, 2008 Isn't it the same order of events as Trials? Submitted by: Park528
August 10, 2008 yeah it is, I checked Submitted by: liquidassets
August 11, 2008 I noticed that Michael Phelps did not use a dolphin kick in his underwater pullout at the 250 meter turn. Anybody can comment on this? Submitted by: arnoldw
Reaction Time responses do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Swimming World Magazine or SwimmingWorldMagazine.com.
Reaction Time is provided as a service to our readers.
|
.jpg)
Photo By: Reuters
Subscribe Now!
|
