Swimming: Michael Phelps dominates U.S Nationals 2010 once again
Michael Phelps won the 200-meter butterfly right after winning the 200-meter freestyle at the U.S national championship. Phelps set another record this year in the 200-meter freestyle by touching in only 1 minute and 45.61 seconds; fastest in the world. Michael said he wanted to touch in the first 100 seconds and is still slower than he wanted it to be.
He earned a spot on the U.S national swimming team and will compete in the Pan Pacific Championship later this month. Ryan Lochte, the 200-meter backstroke Olympic gold medallist, finished right after Phelps with 1 minute and 45.78 seconds, making it the second-quickest time in the world.
Third in the race was the former Pan Pacific Champion of 2006, Peter Vanderkaay; he finished in 1 minute 46.84 seconds winning the bronze medal.
Michael finished the 200-meter fly race in 1 minute 56 seconds which is 4.49 seconds slower than his world record that he made last year in the World Championship held in Rome. Despite finishing first Phelps told the reporters he was not happy at all with his performance and this was probably the worst 200 fly he has swum.
"I didn't feel good at all, I chopped two of my walls. It's a lot of small things. It's going to come back to being in shape” said Michael Phelps.
Stanford’s Bobby Bollier finished second with a time of 1 minute and 57.67 seconds followed by last year’s silver medallist Tyler Clary at 1 minute and 57.69 seconds. Michael Phelps has not lost a 200-meter fly race for the past 8 years and it means a lot to him. He told the media he wanted to secure the first position in this race as it was his first international race.
Last year’s gold medallist Aaron Peirsol was extremely upset when he lost the 100-meter backstroke to David Plummer. Plummer is a 24 years old and comes from Minnetonka, Minnesota and this was the first time he ever won the national title.
“It makes me think I can be the best in the world one day, and that's every swimmer's dream. You can do it from anywhere. You don't have to train next to the best in the world to be the best in the world” said David Plummer.
Peirsol on the other hand was devastated because he has never lost the 100-meter backstroke competition since the past decade in any national event, but this year he not only lost it to Plummer but Nick Thoman beat him at the Charlotte UltraSwim last may.
Aaron told the press, “I was happy for Dave. He's been swimming a long time. Races like that can go either way. I’m not sure that fazes me considering how close it was. David was due. I swam a fine race.”
This year Nick Thoman cruised down the pool smoothly obtaining 1st position until David came railing down followed by Aaron slicing through the water, moving Nick to the third position. David Plummer finished at 53.60, Aaron Peirsol at 53.63 and Thomas 53.78.
In the women’s 100-meter backstroke race, Natalie Coughlin from California stormed in and took the 100-meter title after a long time. The 2008 Olympic gold medallist clocked 1:00.14 beating Melissa Franklin and Rachel Bootsma, both under 17 years of age.
In the 200-meter race 20 year old Olympian Allison Schmitt took the race from Dana Vollmer. Allison won from barely 10th of a second touching the wall at 1:56.84 while Dana finished at 1:56.93 putting Kattie Hoff, a three time 200-meter medley winner, in third position who finished at 1:57.50.
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