Both Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte will be in the 200-meter individual medley finals at the USA Swimming Olympic trials. Phelps, who has already qualified in the 200-meter butterfly for the 2016 Rio Olympics, is looking for his second individual qualifying for said Games. Lochte, on the other hand, has fallen short in individual competition thus far and needs a top finish in the finals of the 200-meter individual medley on Friday to qualify.
Olympic swimming trials 2016 results: Ryan Lochte beats Michael Phelps in 200-meter individual medley semis
Despite swimming with an injury, Ryan Lochte finished ahead of Michael Phelps in the 200-meter individual medley semifinals at the USA Swimming Olympic trials on Friday.
Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Lochte has already punched his ticket to Rio with a spot in the 200-meter freestyle relay, but Friday’s finals represent his only chance to bid for individual Olympic gold once again. Lochte and Phelps are without a doubt the top two dominant men in the sport over the years, but Lochte has had a rough go of it of late and is competing at the trials with a groin injury.
Phelps, an 18-time gold medalist, insists once again that these will be his last Olympics. He’s the most decorated United States Olympian of all time, and smart money is on him qualifying in the 200-meter individual medley on Friday.
Lochte actually holds the lead going into the final, as Lochte clocked a time of 1:56.71 to Phelps’ 1:57.61. The last time the two faced off at a major competition was the London 2012 Olympics, where Phelps won a gold medal.
In the men’s 200-meter breaststroke finals on Thursday, Josh Prenot and Kevin Cordes qualified for Rio by finishing first and second, respectively. Prenot put up a time of 2:07.17, besting Cordes’ American record in the event. Camille Adams put up a time of 2:06.80 in the 200-meter butterfly to earn a trip to her second Olympic Games. Adams was fifth in the event in London. Hali Flickinger also qualified, finishing in second place in the trials.
Nathan Adrian will defend his Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle by winning the finals of that event in 47.22 seconds on Thursday. Adrian’s time was the second-fastest time in the world posted this year, and he will be joined by Caeleb Dressel for an individual berth in the event. Dressel clocked a time of 48.23 seconds to finish second.
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