{"id":483658,"date":"2022-07-29T09:01:06","date_gmt":"2022-07-29T16:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=483658"},"modified":"2022-07-29T09:04:11","modified_gmt":"2022-07-29T16:04:11","slug":"olympics-zhang-yufei-sets-olympic-record-for-200-fly-gold-americans-go-2-3-updated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/olympics-zhang-yufei-sets-olympic-record-for-200-fly-gold-americans-go-2-3-updated\/","title":{"rendered":"Tokyo Flashback: Zhang Yufei Sets Olympic Record for 200 Fly Gold; Americans Go 2-3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tokyo Flashback: Zhang Yufei Sets Olympic Record for 200 Fly Gold; Americans Go 2-3<\/strong><\/p>\n

One year has passed since the Olympic Games, delayed by a year due to COVID-19, unfolded in Tokyo. To celebrate what went down in the Japanese capital, Swimming World is revisiting the championship finals \u2013 each on their one-year anniversary \u2013 by once again running the stories that were posted after the medals were decided.<\/em><\/p>\n

The mixed zone presented a pair of contrasts from the American medalists in the women\u2019s 200 butterfly Thursday morning at the Tokyo Olympics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On one side was an elated Regan Smith,<\/strong> ready to collect her silver medal. On the other was Hali Flickinger,<\/strong> disappointed to find a bronze medal waiting for her.<\/p>\n

Such is the change of fortunes in an Olympics, where even a personal best can carry disappointment.<\/p>\n

What was certain was the destination of the gold medal, with Zhang Yufei<\/strong> a no-doubt winner. She controlled the race from start to finish, winning in an Olympic record 2:03.68. That downs the time from her fellow Chinese swimmer Jiao Liuyang<\/strong> set in London. It\u2019s the third-fastest of all time.<\/p>\n

\"Jul

Hali Flickinger, left, and Regan Smith embrace after the 200 fly; Photo Courtesy: Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Sports<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI tried to pace off of her and she swam a great race,\u201d Flickinger said. \u201cThere is nothing I can control about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The American chasers closed ground, but it was too little, too late. Smith got to the wall first in 2:05.35, adding a silver to her bronze in the 100 backstroke<\/a>. Flickinger grabbed bronze in 2:05.65, augmenting her 400 IM bronze.<\/p>\n

The two times, separated by three tenths, account for opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. Smith was 2:06.99 at Olympic Trials, making the team in the event before the disappointment of missing out on the 200 backstroke, in which she holds the world record. To lop more than a second and a half off that had her beaming.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a great race,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI was really pleased with my prelims and semis times but I knew I still had some stuff to clean up to get better. And I think I did just that. I\u2019m super psyched.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flickinger was 2:05.85 at Trials<\/a>. Only trimming two tenths off that, though still a personal best, is cause for disappointment, though she puts it into context that the medal is what matters most at the Olympics.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was able to stand up and swim for our country, and there\u2019s nothing better than that,\u201d said the 27-year-old, who won her first career Olympic medal in the 400 IM<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019re coming home with medals, both silver and bronze, so that\u2019s exciting. \u2026 It was nowhere close to a swim that I\u2019m capable of doing. But I got to stand up on the podium and represent the U.S., and that\u2019s all that matters here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zhang Yufei was out by a bodylength from the first wall on. That gap held until the 150-meter wall, and the Americans started to close. But they ran out of real estate. The Americans weren\u2019t seriously challenged for the medal stand, with Boglarka Kapas<\/strong> buzzing barely within a second of Flickinger. Yu Liyan<\/strong> of China was a further second back in fifth.<\/p>\n

For Smith, who has two medals in her first Games with the medley relay still left, it\u2019s a joy according to the watch and the podium.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just super surprised,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s my best time by over a second and 2:05 is really, really good. I\u2019m really excited and really happy.\u201d<\/p>\n