Peng Wu ousts Michael Phelps in 200m butterfly at the 2011 Eric Namesnik Grand Prix – Swimming News
Wolverine Club’s Peng Wu earned the title of the Men’s 200m butterfly on the second day of the 2011 Eric Namesnik Grand Prix in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Wu displayed an astounding swim to win over the defending champion and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games gold medallist, Michael Phelps.
Phelps, who already owns the title of the Men’s 200m freestyle and the 100m butterfly failed to score the top of podium in the distant butterfly event. Phelps defeated Wu in the 100m butterfly event with a comfortable lead, while Wu stood third in that event.
Wu took revenge from Phelps by clocking a time of 1:56.62 minutes to reach the top of the podium ahead of Phelps. Phelps remained evident for the silver medal behind Wu, until the last lap. He completed the first lap in a second fastest time of 25.99 seconds
behind Wu, who clocked 25.83 seconds. Wu then maintained his lead in the second lap, finishing in 29.73 seconds to post 55.56 seconds on the board, as compared to Phelps’s 29.75 efforts to submit a time of 55.74 seconds.
They were followed by Una Gsc-FL’s Marcin Cieslak and Fast ST-CA’s Scott T Clary, who completed their first laps in 26.19 seconds and 30.49 seconds, respectively. They also completed their second laps in 29.92 seconds and 29.56 seconds, respectively, to
complete the first-half in 56.11 and 56.44 seconds, respectively.
Wu then elevated his pace to complete the third lap in 30.17 seconds and posted a time of 1:25.73 minutes. His time was well ahead of Phelps, who completed his lap in 30.80 seconds to post a 1:26.54 minutes ahead of Cieslak and Clary, who produced 30.53
and 30.49 seconds to post 1:26.64 and 1:26.93 seconds, respectively.
All the three swimmers were in a neck-to-neck combat except Wu, who had a clear lead. Wu then accelerated his sprint and completed the final lap in a time of 30.89 seconds, while Cieslak and Clary out-touched Phelps with an effort of 30.49 and 30.63 seconds,
to post 1:57.13 and 1:57.56 minutes, respectively. Phelps had a considerably slothful final round, presenting 31.25 seconds to post 1:57.79 minutes for the fourth spot.
After eight record gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, this is the first time that the American champion failed to reach the podium in his main event. Phelps was disappointed with his performance and said that he needs to get himself together for the
upcoming events at the championship.
Phelps claimed that he will work hard to seek better improvements. He added that he would try to conquer the podium at the upcoming Grand Prix stop in Charlotte, during May.
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