{"id":436585,"date":"2020-06-24T07:35:01","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T14:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=436585"},"modified":"2020-06-24T07:59:32","modified_gmt":"2020-06-24T14:59:32","slug":"2016-trials-throwback-michael-phelps-marks-return-with-200-fly-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/2016-trials-throwback-michael-phelps-marks-return-with-200-fly-win\/","title":{"rendered":"2016 Trials Throwback: Michael Phelps Marks Return with 200 Fly Win"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each day during the pre-scheduled days of the 2020 US Olympic Trials, Swimming World will take its readers back four years to the 2016 Trials in Omaha to recap each event, and will offer some insight into what the events will look like in 2021.<\/em><\/p>\n

The world was first introduced to a fresh-faced 15-year-old named Michael Phelps<\/strong> via the 200 butterfly in 2000, the gangly kid from Baltimore making an unprecedentedly young appearance at the Sydney Games<\/a> and finishing in fifth place. Few then might have guessed how that kid would redefine Olympic swimming.<\/p>\n

Fast forward 16 dominant years, and perhaps the final verdict of the Phelps comeback tour would rest with the 200 fly. It was his signature event, one in which he\u2019d held the world record for 15 years (it would survive until 2019) and won two gold and one silver medal. Yet for all the dominance, the narrative changed to redemption: Chad le Clos<\/strong> had done what no one does to Phelps, finishing stronger in the London Olympic final and beating him to the wall for gold by .05 seconds.<\/p>\n

This would be Phelps\u2019 first swim in Omaha at the 2016 Trials, after he scratched out of the 200 free on Monday<\/a>. All eyes would be on Tuesday\u2019s swim.<\/p>\n

The Race<\/h4>\n
\"tom-shields-\"

Tom Shields at 2016 Trials Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

Prelims at the 2016 Trials<\/a> marked a last hurrah for three swimmers born in the 1980s \u2013 Bobby Bollier, Tyler Clary<\/strong> and Michael Klueh<\/strong> \u2013 all of whom qualified for semis but were eliminated there. Phelps, another baby of the 80s, lasted longer. He was tops in prelims in 1:56.98, with Pace Clark<\/strong>, who entered as the eighth seed, second in 1:56.90.<\/p>\n

Phelps asserted himself in the semifinals<\/a> at 1:55.17, separating from a crowd of 1:56s led by Clark, Tom Shields<\/strong> and Chase Kalisz<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Shields provided the excitement in the final. Phelps led from the start. But Shields, who specializes more in the 100 fly and short-course races, was within a second of Phelps and delivered the fastest third 50 of the final. Both faded late \u2013 Shields\u2019 32.08 split was the second-slowest of the eight swimmers, Phelps third-slowest at 31.90. But they got to the wall in first and second<\/a>, 1:54.85 and 1:55.81.<\/p>\n

The result sent Phelps to his record fifth Olympics<\/a>. For Shields, at age 24, it was his first Olympics trip. Jack Conger,<\/strong> who had earned a relay spot the night before in the 200 free and paid the price with an outside lane, was third among five 1:56s.<\/p>\n

Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Michael Phelps 1:54.84<\/li>\n
  2. Tom Shields 1:55.81<\/li>\n
  3. Jack Conger 1:56.45<\/li>\n
  4. Gunnar Bentz 1:56.46<\/li>\n
  5. Chase Kalisz 1:56.64<\/li>\n
  6. Pace Clark 1:56.66<\/li>\n
  7. Zach Harting 1:56.92<\/li>\n
  8. Andrew Seliskar 1:58.34<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n