{"id":441190,"date":"2020-07-28T08:15:55","date_gmt":"2020-07-28T15:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=441190"},"modified":"2020-07-30T12:37:16","modified_gmt":"2020-07-30T19:37:16","slug":"tokyo-vision-lithuanias-danas-rapsys-joined-by-field-of-fresh-faces-for-200-freestyle-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/tokyo-vision-lithuanias-danas-rapsys-joined-by-field-of-fresh-faces-for-200-freestyle-final\/","title":{"rendered":"Tokyo Vision: Lithuania\u2019s Danas Rapsys joined by Field of Fresh Faces For 200 Freestyle Final"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tokyo Vision: Lithuania\u2019s Danas Rapsys joined by Field of Fresh Faces For 200 Freestyle Final<\/strong><\/p>\n

Had the COVID-19 pandemic not shaken the world, the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo<\/a> would be unfolding right now, titles and podium finishes earned by the finest athletes from around the world. Instead, we are in a competition lull and hopeful that the Games will be held next summer, with COVID-19 neutralized.<\/p>\n

As we reach the nine days over which the swimming competition of a delayed Olympiad would have taken place, Swimming World is taking a glimpse at what might have unfolded this summer, had the Olympics not been postponed. Following the official schedule, we offer our virtual fields of eight finalists for each event and take a brief look at how the racing might have panned out until a few strokes away from decision and a result that will not be known until July\/August 2021.<\/p>\n

League of Olympic Legends: Ian Thorpe Tops 200m Free Podium With Schollander & A Snap For Hoogie & Gross<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Event:<\/strong> Men\u2019s 200 Freestyle
\nWorld Record:<\/strong> Paul Biedermann (2009) – 1:42.00<\/p>\n

Historical Note #1:<\/strong> The Mexico altitude certainly threw a spanner in the works in 1968, none more so than in the 200 freestyle final won by Sydney\u2019s Mike<\/strong> Wenden<\/strong>,who added his second gold to Australia\u2019s tally after winning the blue ribbon 100 freestyle. Wenden, who won in an Olympic record time of 1:55.2 and silver medallist, smooth stroking American Don Schollander<\/strong> (1:55.8), were stretched to the limit by their high altitude ordeal. Schollander had to be given oxygen while Wenden lost consciousness and had to be saved by fellow Aussie Bob Windle<\/strong>. Schollander announced his immediate retirement saying: \u201cThat\u2019s it, I\u2019m finished with swimming. I may not even take a bath or shower for another two years!\u201d Wenden returned home a national hero, with this advice for future Olympic champions: \u201cSeek advice about a suitable business manager and maintain close contact with a psychologist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Historical Note #2:<\/strong> In 2000, Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband<\/strong> sat in his room back in the Village watching the opening night\u2019s swimming which featured his arch rival, Ian Thorpe<\/strong>, delivering gold for the home crowd in the 400 freestyle before overpowering Gary Hall Jr. in the anchor leg to give the Aussies a rare victory in the 4x100m freestyle relay. \u201cHoogie\u201d with the astute coach Jacco Verhaeren<\/strong> in his corner seemed non-plused when Verhaeren knocked on his door that night. They had come to Australia with one goal, to become the first man to break 48 seconds in the 100. Anything else would be a bonus. The flying Dutchman delivered that bonus and spoiled Thorpe\u2019s party, letting him know he meant business in the 200 free when he broke the Australian\u2019s world record in the semifinal in a time of 1:45.35 \u2013 Thorpe replying in the second semi when he too broke his own world record in 1:45.37 but outside Hoogie’s new mark. The stage was set for shootout to end all shootouts in the final, with the pair turning in the same time at the 150m mark, before the Dutchman pulled away to win the gold \u2013 equaling his time world record time from the semifinal.<\/p>\n

Virtual Vision<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Finalists (Listed Alphabetically)<\/strong><\/p>\n