Michael Phelps: Overview of his performance at the 2011 World Championships – Part 5
After pocketing two medals in the early days of the 2011 World Championships, Phelps now headed towards his prime event, the Men’s 200m butterfly. The event was of considerable importance, as the world record holder and the Beijing champion had lost the
same event two times from Wu Peng at the two different stops of 2010-2011 USA Grand Prix Series.
Therefore, the arena was very excited and spectators could not wait to see whether their swimming icon defends his international title this time, or faces defeat from the hands of Chinese swimmer, Peng.
In the first session of the championship's third day, Phelps took part in the preliminary rounds of the 200m event, where he qualified as the eleventh fastest swimmer which would enter the semi-finals of butterfly event. Austria’s Jukic Dinko was the fastest
swimmer, as he dominated the event with a wonderful effort of 1 minute and 55.26 seconds. Another strong contender for the medal of the event, Takeshi Matsuda of Japan was the fifth best qualifying swimmer, as he posted 1 minute and 55.95 seconds.
In addition, Chad Le Clos of South Africa attained seventh qualification spot of the event, as he ended his swim in 1 minute and 56.37 seconds. Meanwhile, Peng posted a fifteenth fastest time of 1 minute and 56.98 seconds to enter the semi-finals. The event
seemed to be full of surprises as prominent swimmers of the butterfly event failed to achieve a top-qualification spot.
Nevertheless, the tables turned in the semi-finals of the butterfly event, which took place in the second session of day three, where the arena’s favourite demonstrated their gruelling efforts and improved their positions to confirm their berths among the
top-eight squad of the final round.
Matsuda transpired as the top fastest swimmer to qualify for the final round, as he conquered the semi-finals with a timing of 1 minute and 54.30 seconds. He was followed by Yin Chen of China, who was only 0.50 seconds behind Matsuda and clocked a time of
1 minute and 54.80 seconds.
In addition, American fans were relieved with the third fastest qualification effort of Phelps, who remained just 0.05 seconds behind Yin, by submitting a time of 1 minute and 54.85 seconds. Besides, Le Clos sustained his seventh fastest qualification spot
of the event, as he improved his timing by 0.81 seconds to post 1 minute and 55.56 seconds in the semi-final.
Phelps’s effort in the semi-final was incredible, as he moved up from the eleventh spot and finished third in the second round, to become a strong contender for podium finish. His immaculate effort in the butterfly discipline also comforted the American
team, as their position on the overall points table was highly dependent on Phelps’s performance.
Phelps was now one-step closer from overwhelming the effort of his fellow swimmers and defending his international title of the 200m butterfly. The battle was not over yet, as he still faced immense competition from the two swimmers ahead of him. The session
ended after the event, while the crowd could not wait to see their beloved swimmer overpowering the final of the event.
Continued in Part 6
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