Trials Throwback: Women’s 200 IM in 2012

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Just a few days to go until Olympic Trials get underway in Omaha, Neb. But before the meet, we wanted to look back at some of the great moments from past editions of the meet held inside the CenturyLink Center. Welcome to #TrialsThrowback!

Ariana Kukors had her sights set on redemption. In the 200 IM final at the 2008 Olympic Trials, Kukors was leading after 150 meters but faded to third as both Katie Hoff and Natalie Coughlin passed her on the freestyle. Kukors had a chance to sneak in ahead of Coughlin at the finish, but a chopped stroke left her eight one-hundredths behind.

A year later at World Championships Trials, Kukors again finished third in the 200 IM, this time just four one-hundredths behind Elizabeth Pelton. But Kukors caught a break—Pelton withdrew from the 200 IM to concentrate on the backstroke events—and she took full advantage. In Rome, Kukors proceeded to cut more than four seconds from her best time, winning her first World title in world record time (2:06.15).

Fast forward three years to the 200 IM final at the 2012 Trials, and Kukors had still never been on an Olympic team. She was facing a tough field that included Pelton—who this time scratched the 100 back final to focus on the 200 IM—and Caitlin Leverenz. Leverenz was already on the London team, but she knew a thing or two about heartbreaking finishes, having ended up third in the 200 breast and fourth in both the 200 and 400 IM in 2008.

Pelton used her strong butterfly and backstroke legs to her advantage, and she led by more than a second at the 100. But Leverenz took control on the breaststroke leg, and Kukors was in close pursuit of Pelton. Kukors gained a slight advantage on the freestyle leg and ended up in that second spot, just a quarter-second ahead of Pelton.

Pelton finished third yet again later in the meet in the 200 back, locking her off the Olympic team.

Leverenz went on to earn the bronze medal in the 200 IM in London behind Ye Shiwen and Alicia Coutts while Kukors finished fifth in that final.

Check out our previous #TrialsThrowbacks:
Men’s 400 IM in 2008
Women’s 400 IM in 2008
Women’s 100 Back in 2008
Men’s 200 Breast in 2008
Men’s 200 Back in 2008
Men’s 100 Back in 2012
Women’s 100 Breast in 2012

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