Michael Phelps: Overview of his performance at the 2011 World Championships – Part 4
After the fifth fastest qualification effort in the semi-finals of 200m freestyle, Phelps aimed towards the final of 200m event, as this was his last chance to secure a podium finish in the freestyle discipline. Nevertheless, everyone had their eyes on the
top-five qualifying swimmers of the event, as they were the favourite contenders for a podium finish.
In addition, the final round of the event was scheduled to take place in the second session of third day, where the Shanghai aquatic’s arena was going to witness Phelps’s first individual medal effort. The arena was excited with Phelps’s participation, as
he did not take part at the 2010 Dubai World Championships.
Finally, the event started, where Lochte had a comparable quicker start, but Phelps gained a slight lead over him and completed the initial lap of the swim with a fastest time of 24.25 seconds, to stay ahead of Lochte’s 24.53 seconds effort. The two American
swimmers continued their battle in the second lap, where Phelps maintained his lead over Lochte and posted 50.93 seconds for the first 100m of the race, while Lochte produced 51.20 seconds.
Nonetheless, the tables turned in the third lap, where Lochte overwhelmed Phelps’s effort and gained a lead over him, by concluding the 150 metres of the race, with a timing of 1 minute and 17.49 seconds, whereas, Phelps posted 1 minute and 18.13 seconds.
Everyone was shocked with such a competitive battle between these two team-mates, and the decision depended on their efforts in the final lap.
Lochte overpowered Phelps’s effort by maintaining his fastest spot of the race in the final lap, where he completed his lap in 26.95 seconds to post 1 minute and 44.44 seconds on the board. Phelps remained only 0.35 seconds slower than Lochte and was able
to win the silver medal, with his timing of 1 minute and 44.79 seconds. He was chased by world record holder, Paul Biedermann of Germany, who ended his swim in a third fastest time of 1 minute and 44.88 seconds.
With his silver claiming effort, the 26-year-old American failed to meet the expectations of his fans, but he expressed contentment over his effort saying than Lochte deserved the gold medal. Though the timings of the podium finishers were not up to the
standard, as the gold medallist was 2.44 seconds behind the world mark, but the crowd appreciated Phelps’s effort, as the world record holder, Biedermann finished third behind him.
First, he won a bronze medal in the relay event and now the silver finish in the 200m freestyle discipline conveyed a clear message that no one can stop Beijing’s Champion to secure a podium finish in his events. Phelps gained a lot of confidence from his
freestyle swim and now the American was directed toward his prime event, the 200m butterfly, whose preliminary rounds were also scheduled to be held on the same day.
Moving towards his next event, the 200m butterfly, Phelps knew that he would be facing tough competition from Wu Peng, Dinko Jukic, Laszlo Cseh and Chad Le Clos. Conversely, the arena was excited and they wanted to see how Phelps performs in the 200m butterfly
event.
Continued in Part 5.
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