Michael Phelps triumphs Men’s 200m backstroke heat: Day three – 2012 Columbus Grand Prix
The 14-time Olympic champion, Michael Phelps of North Baltimore conquered the qualifying rounds of Men’s 200m backstroke on day three of the 2012 Columbus Grand Prix at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion on Sunday, March 11.
The 26-year-old Phelps won gold medals of the 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m Individual Medley (IM) and 400m IM at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
With his scintillating form in the qualifying rounds of 200m backstroke, he devastated hopes of his opponents and reached the finishing wall first.
Phelps faced strong competition from Connor McDonald of OSU-OH, who engaged him in a neck-to-neck race in the first lap of the event. The arena was stunned with the fascinating efforts of Phelps and McDonald, as both swimmers ended their first lap of the
event with an identical time of 28.99 seconds.
Subsequently, the 18-year-old McDonald elevated his efforts in the second lap of the event and became top contender for the title of the event by edging out Phelps. McDonald completed his initial 100 metres of the swim in a fastest time of 1 minute and 00.23
seconds. With his forceful efforts, he remained 0.26 seconds ahead of Phelps, who wrapped up the equivalent distance by posting a time of 1 minute and 00.49 seconds.
Phelps went full throttle in the third lap of the race where he overpowered McDonald by posting a time of 1 minute and 31.20 seconds. On the other hand, McDonald remained 0.89 seconds slower from Phelps and ended his third lap in a time of 1 minute and 32.09
seconds.
With his nerve-wrecking performance, Phelps dominated final lap of the event and hit the finishing blockade with the timing of 2 minutes and 01.79 seconds. He was chased by McDonald, who stayed about two seconds away from Phelps and ended his swim in 2 minutes
and 03.40 seconds.
In the meantime, Robles Castro of Mexico occupied third position of the discipline as he posted a time of 2 minutes and 03.47 seconds to enter the playoff.
The session ended after the completion of all listed events while these swimmers will contend each other in the final round.
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