Michael Phelps: Overview of his performance at the 2011 World Championships – Part 3
After an acknowledging effort in the 4*100m freestyle relay on the primary day of the World Championships, Phelps’ attention was directed towards one of his main events, the 200m freestyle, which was scheduled to take place on the second day.
Phelps’s 48.08 seconds effort in the freestyle relay aroused the hopes of his fans, who wanted to witness him making a splash in the 200m event. Finally, the day came when the arena’s favourite qualified for the semi-final, by posting an impressive effort
in the preliminary rounds of the 200m event.
In the 200m freestyle, Phelps was going to take part with his strongest competitors including the likes of Ryan Lochte, Paul Biedermann, Sebastiaan Verschuren, Park Tae Hwan and Yannick Agnel. In the preliminary round of the 200m freestyle, the arena witnessed
commendable efforts of the top-five swimmers, who remained just a touch away from each other and ended their swims in the same time frame of 1 minute and 46.00 seconds.
Phelps’s team-member, Lochte was the fastest swimmer to enter the next round, as he completed his race in 1 minute and 46.34 seconds. He stayed 0.19 seconds away from his following swimmer, Verschuren of Netherlands, who occupied second qualifying berth
in 1 minute and 46.53 seconds. Next was the world record holder of the event, Biedermann of Germany, who remained as the third fastest swimmer to enter the semi-final and clocked 1 minute and 46.56 seconds.
Biedermann was 0.07 seconds away from Tae Hwan of Korea, who qualified fourth with a timing of 1 minute and 46.63 seconds. Following the Korean swimmer was the crowd’s beloved, Phelps, who earned fifth fastest qualification spot in the semi-final, by producing
a time of 1 minute and 46.98 seconds.
The arena was pleased with the qualifying effort of Phelps, as his swim implied that he is in a strong position to secure a top finish. Later on, in the evening session, the top sixteen swimmers of the event competed with each other, where the first eight
swimmers made their way to the final round.
In the semi-final, Agnel of France showered his astonishing swimming skills and earned the top qualification spot, by submitting a time of 1 minute and 45.62 seconds. His effort was 0.31 seconds ahead of his following swimmer, Biedermann, who chased him
in the final, by reporting a second fastest time of 1 minute and 45.93 seconds. Biedermann out-touched his closest competitor, Lochte, with a difference of only 0.18 seconds as Lochte was ranked third with this 1 minute and 46.11 seconds’ effort.
Similarly, Lochte was 0.12 seconds away from Korean swimmer, who sustained his qualification spot, by entering the final as fourth best swimmer, with a timing of 1 minute and 46.23 seconds. Meanwhile, Phelps also maintained his qualification spot
and transpired as the fifth swimmer to reach the final. He improved his timing by 0.07 seconds and confirmed his spot in the final, with an effort of 1 minute and 46.91 seconds.
A slight improvement in his effort exhibited that Phelps still has what it takes to meet the expectations of his fans, while the arena’s favourite felt contented with his qualifying effort and added that he will provide more to his fans in the final round.
Continued in Part 4.
Tags: