U.S. Olympic Trials Day Two Prelims Injury Report

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Ryan Lochte admitted after Sunday night’s 400 IM final at Olympic Trials that he was hampered by a groin injury suffered while swimming breaststroke in his prelims race. After finishing a disappointing third behind Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland, Lochte said he tried to compensate—and it backfired.

“I pulled my groin the morning, so I had to go out faster than usual because I couldn’t use my thighs in breaststroke,” Lochte said. “I did everything I could in that race—just wasn’t enough.”

Lochte said he was happy for Kalisz and Litherland, whom he called “our two best guys in the event.”

Lochte added that he planned on moving forward, and he is still slated to swim the 200 free prelims this morning. He said he plans on getting a couple of cortisone shots but was banking on the pain subsiding in hopes that the groin would not bother him again this week.

Not swimming in today’s prelims will be Elizabeth Beisel, who qualified second in the 400 IM Sunday night. She was slated to swim both the 100 back and 400 free today, but she is no longer listed on the heat sheets.

Beisel and Florida coach Gregg Troy admitted after the race that Beisel had been sick in the two weeks leading into Trials, so they were just glad she could get on the team in her best event.

“We’ve been a little bit nervous all week,” Troy said. “She battled some illness a week ago, and I think it’s one of her best efforts ever. Tremendous tribute to her intensity and how she stays on top of things. It took everything she had.”

Beisel swam more than three seconds off her season best, a 4:33.55 from the Atlanta Classic last month. She will head to Rio trying to repeat or improve on the silver medal she won in the event in London four years ago.

“We’re glad we get another chance to go in and see what we can do next time around,” Troy said.

Tyler Clary was one of three possible finalists in the 400 IM who scratched out of the evening heat. Clary suffered from migraine symptoms after the race, but he is still slated to swim the 200 free in prelims this morning.

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