{"id":478129,"date":"2021-06-17T18:22:55","date_gmt":"2021-06-18T01:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=478129"},"modified":"2021-06-18T06:58:25","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T13:58:25","slug":"u-s-olympic-trials-hali-flickinger-surges-past-regan-smith-to-win-womens-200-butterfly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/u-s-olympic-trials-hali-flickinger-surges-past-regan-smith-to-win-womens-200-butterfly\/","title":{"rendered":"Refocused Hali Flickinger Wins 200 Butterfly in U.S. Open Record; Regan Smith Adds to Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hali Flickinger <\/strong>started the Olympic trials strong, but it turns out, she was just getting started.<\/p>\n

Flickinger won the 200 butterfly in a time of 2:05.85 \u2014 that was a U.S. Open record \u2014 and officially punched her ticket to Tokyo after getting second in the 400 IM earlier in the meet. Now that is official for Flickinger<\/a> and she will swim both events.<\/p>\n

“It means a lot. I worked really hard after 2019 with what happened in the final (at worlds),” Hali Flickinger said. “I\u2019ve worked to make sure that hopefully never happens again, and I am glad the improvements I worked on are starting to show.”<\/p>\n

It capped a rocky \u2014 and at times tumultuous \u2014 Olympic cycle for Flickinger after making the team in 2016 in the 200 butterfly.<\/p>\n

After a disappointing silver medal at the 2019 World Championships when she was the gold-medal favorite, Flickinger continued to feel the pressure. It took a mental toll and she moved across the country for a new scene and a new outlook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Moving to train with Bob Bowman<\/strong> at Arizona State changed everything for Flickinger.<\/p>\n

“I had a little too much pressure on my shoulders in the 200 fly. I was carrying self doubt. I made sure Bob was aware of that and it was something I wanted to hit head on,” Flickinger said. “I think when I walked into Bob\u2019s office, I made clear of my goal and I was open with what I was struggling with mentally \u2014 and things I needed to work on \u2014 and he took that and took the perfect balance to help with what was going on in my head. I didn\u2019t overthink it and I was just swimming it, and I dropped time in it.”<\/p>\n

It was Regan Smith<\/strong> took the early lead, pushing the pace on the first 50 and 100. Smith had a slight edge over Flickinger at the 100, but Flickinger passed Smith on the final turn and hung on for the win with Smith getting second.<\/p>\n

Smith finished in 2:06.99, holding off a late-charging Charlotte Hook<\/strong> 2:07.92.<\/p>\n

“My swim, I was really, really pleased with it. I was a little bit off my best, and I\u2019ll take it. The finals are all about racing, and I did what I needed to do. I never thought I would make the team in the 200 butterfly, so it\u2019s very special,” Smith said. “Butterfly has always been the fun one. Backstroke, I think I subconsciously put a lot more pressure on myself. Butterfly, I just go out and have a lot of fun and see what happens. I went out and enjoyed the race.”<\/p>\n

Flickinger, like Smith, said that training in multiple events helped her take her mind off of a solitary focus.<\/p>\n

“It helped a lot. When I go to practice every day, there is not just one focus,” Flickinger said. “He made sure that whatever we did, I was working hard and it just happened.”<\/p>\n

It just happened, but it wasn’t surprising.<\/p>\n

“It didn\u2019t surprise me. Bob and I talked about it. I knew what I was doing in practice and knew what was possible,” Flickinger said. “I was hopeful, and I am glad it all came together.”<\/p>\n

It was a relatively new field to the final, especially long course, as Dakota Luther<\/strong> (2017 Worlds) the only swimmer with major international experience with 2019 Worlds bronze medalist Katie Drabot<\/strong> not making the final, though Olivia Carter<\/strong> was the NCAA champion in the event in March. Regan Smith<\/strong> obviously has plenty of experience internationally, but not in the butterfly. She made 2019 worlds in both backstroke events and performed at world-record pace. This meet is her first on the big stage in the 200 butterfly.<\/p>\n

Lindsay Looney<\/strong> finished fourth (2:08.40), followed by Kelly Pash<\/strong> (2:08.59), Luther (2:09.40), Carter (2:09.79) and Rachel Klinker<\/strong> (2:11.09).<\/p>\n

But it was Flickinger, who had the top time through prelims and semifinals, that got to the wall first.<\/p>\n