By John Lohn
BEIJING, China, August 10. WHEN Matt Grevers qualified for the Beijing Olympics at the U.S. Trials last month, he joked about his parents celebrating in a big way. How do you think they reacted to an Olympic record from their son? Opening his Olympic program, the Northwestern product led qualifying in the 100 backstroke with a time of 53.41. That effort broke Aaron Peirsol's Games record of 53.45 from Athens.
Much work remains for Grevers and the rest of a stacked field, but it was a good start. Grevers was followed in second by Russian Arkady Vyatchanin, a longtime staple on the international scene who was timed in 53.64. The third spot went to Peirsol in 53.65. The reigning Olympic champ and world-record holder looked easy in his Beijing debut.
Also breaking the 54-second barrier during the evening session were Spain's Aschwin Wildeboer (53.67), South Africa's Gerhard Zandberg (53.75), Great Britain's Liam Tancock (53.85) and Australian Hayden Stoeckel (53.93). Slovakia's Lubos Krizko (54.07) and Aussie Ashley Delaney (54.08) were eighth and ninth.
The semifinal field will also feature Japan's Junichi Miyashita (54.12), Russia's Stanislav Donets (54.18), Japan's Tomomi Morita (54.21), Austria's Markus Rogan (54.22), Italy's Marco DiTora (54.39), Israel's Gy Barnea (54.50) and Great Britain's Gregor Tait (54.62). Rogan was the silver medalist in Athens with Morita taking the bronze.
Results: 2008 Olympic Games - Swimming
Premium Members - Search More About: Matt Grevers
Reaction Time Comments
August 10, 2008 I couldn't believe Meeuw didn't shave for the prelims. Anybody know him: was that arrogance or stupidity??
USA 1-2!! Submitted by: liquidassets
August 10, 2008 yeah i saw he was sporting a full beard. i dont know what he was thinking. very dumb Submitted by: WUswimmer
August 11, 2008 Peirsol didn't shave yet either and they said it gave Reese a heart attack but he doesn't look like he has much to shave ;-) Submitted by: liquidassets
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.
|
Free Download:
|
