Phelps Is Incredible! Period!
Amanda Beard Ties World Record, While Phelps Breaks Two
BARCELONA - There is no doubt in anyone's minds now, Michael Phelps is the swimmer of the championships, and he's still got more to come. In one of the top swimming performances of all time, Phelps shattered the world record and annihalated two of the best 200 IMers in the world, Massimiliano Rosolini (ITA) and Jani Sievinen (FIN) as well Ian Thorpe (AUS), one of the greatest in his own right, finished well back in second. And all that was after Phelps had just broken the world record in the 100 fly. Phelps is beyond great, he is incredible.
800 Free Finals Men
Grant Hackett (AUS) continued his untouchable status again tonight, winning in 7:43.82. The swim was good, with Hackett on world record pace until the final 100. 18-year-old Larsen Jensen (USA) had a fine swim, securing silver with his best time of 7:48.09. Igor Chervynskyi (UKR) also swam a PB to get bronze with a 7:53.15. "7:48 was my goal time," said Jensen. "I was close to Hackett but at the end he just took off. Hopefully next year I will be even closer."
100 Free Final Women
Hanna-Maria Seppälä (FIN) made history tonight, becoming the first Finnish woman to win a world championship title. In a perfect progression from heats through finals she won in a personal best time of 54.37. Seppala was 16th in this event in 2001.
Jodie Henry (AUS), was second while Jenny Thompson (USA) touched in third. "I've had a great performance," said Henry. "Although my preparation wasn't the best, to come second is good, it's awesome."
50 Free Semi-Final Men
Jason Lezak (USA) looked fast and in control winning semi-final 1. Also fast was Julien Sicot (FRA). The two touched in 22.14 and 22.32, but Alexander Popov (RUS) put in another great sub-22 swim with his 21.99, well ahead of Johan Kenkhuis (NED) who qualified for tomorrow night's final in third with a 22.31.
50 Fly Semi-Final Women
Inge de Bruijn (NED) qualified first for tomorrow's final in a 25.94. The only sub-26 sec time, she looks a solid choice to win gold. Yafei Zhou (CHN) and Anna-Karin Kammerling both swam 26.73 in separate heats to tie for second. Within 15 minutes of swimming the 100 free final, Jenny Thompson qualified in 7th with a 27.10.
100 Fly Semi-Final Men
Michael Phelps sent a message loud and clear tonight to leave the world record breaking to him. In semi final 1, Andriy Serdinov (RUS) broke Michael Klim's (AUS) world record with his 51.76. It took everyone a few seconds for it to register that in fact Serdinov was the new world record holder, and even when they did, they didn't quite know how to react.
Then, before Serdinov had even a few moments to celebrate, Michael Phelps erased him from the board. Last at the 50, Phelps flew by everyone and powered to the wall with such determination; he was sending a message that only he was allowed to be the King of Fly. His time of 51.47 looked so easy and the only question that remains is how much faster will he go tomorrow in the final.
200 Breast Final Women
Most fast young breaststrokers are not fast older breaststrokers and vice-versa. Amanda Beard (USA) has proven her longevity in the breast events over the last seven years, since her double silver medal performances at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics to her new world record tonight. Her 2:22.99 ties the existing record by Hui Qi (CHN) who only managed a third place in 2:25.78. "My coach called it a perfect race," said a shocked Beard. "And you can't get better than that!"
Leisel Jones (AUS) was the early leader and over a second under world record pace at the 100, but she faded on the final 50 and touched in 2:24.33 for the silver.
200 Back Final Men
Aaron Peirsol (USA) went too hard too soon in an effort to break the world record and suffered because of it in the final 20 metres. Peirsol was under the world record at the 50 and 100, but his stroke, usually so long and strong, looked too aggressive and in the final 50 his stroke rate had fallen considerably.
But that doesn't mean his championship win wasn't impressive. Only the second man under 1:56, he holds 3 of the 6 performances under that standard. "I wanted to beat the record, but I couldn't," said Peirsol. "I will take the result however, a win is a win. I feel great about the 100 back and I still have the relay to swim, so I will try to break the record again there."
Peirsol's time of 1:55.92 was off his best, but a clear win over Gordan Kozulj (CRO) who had his best major swim to earn silver in 1:57.47. "This is a dream to win a medal in a world championships or Olympic Games," said Kozulj. Simon Dufour (FRA) was third in 1:57.90, out-touching Matt Welsh (AUS) by 2/100ths. "I was in the outside lane and at first I didn't see a lot," said Dufour. "But at the turn I saw that I had a chance and I went for it."
200 Back Semi-Final Women
Iryna Amshennikova (UKR) won semi-final 1 in 2:11.08, with Sarah Price (GBR) in hot pursuit with a 2:11.69. In semi-final 2, Stanislava Komarova (RUS) and Katy Sexton (GBR) swam fast enough to qualify 1-2 for the final with 2:09.39 and 2:10.47.
200 IM Final Men
With just 30 minutes rest Michael Phelps (USA) swam a race that will leave jaws dropped for years to come. Phelps didn't just win and he didn't just break the world record. He had one of those swims that brings you to your feet and keeps you there, standing in awe at the greatness of such an historical performance. He finished in 1:56.04—one and a half second faster than his day old previous best, and almost 3 body lengths ahead of the field. "It was a goal of mine to break two world records in one day," said Phelps, "so I am pretty happy with that."
The field included two of the greatest 200 IM'ers in history, reigning Olympic Champion Massimiliano Rosolino (ITA) and former world record holder Jani Sievinen (FIN), who finished third and fourth respectively. Overshadowed for the second time in as many nights, Ian Thorpe won silver in a best time of 1:59.66, the fifth best performance in history. "I see Michael as an incredibly talented swimmer," said a gracious Thorpe after the race.
Phelps: "My goal tonight was to beat these records. I did it and I hope to be so good in the next swims."
"After Sedinov's record, it fired me up to swim my semi-final. When came my turn, I was really ready for that race."
Beating two WR in 45 minutes: "I was thinking one race at the time. After the 100 fly, I switched my focus into the 200 IM. I knew it would be a huge challenge taking into account my opponents. At the end, I was happy with the WR" No limits? "Everything is possible if you put your mind on it and you work in consequence. Your mind controls it all!"
Music before the races: "I listen an Eminem song that I don't know the title. It's working so far, so I'll continue with the same".
"I don't have a favourite event. I am testing here in Barcelona if I can handle a big number of events next summer (at the occasion of the Olympic Games)." Phelps' coach Bob Bowman: "I was a little bit worried after his WR on the 100 fly, not only because of his physical condition, but mainly because of his mental shape. Beating a WR is very emotional and can cause some lack of concentration"
Thorpe:"The 200 IM is unknown territory for me. My second place and the fact that I was three seconds behind Michael really does not concern me. This event is very useful to train and to better my freestyle"
"Michael has a great talent to swim and he understands like few how to get the most from that talent and to take advantage of it. I hope to meet him in the freestyle events". "He is doing a great job"
Advice about glory: "I don't need to give him any advice and if I had to I would do it privately"
Massimiliano Rosolino: "The first I'll do it to buy this CD (of Eminem). Tonight I was really impressed with Michael's performances! About my race, and taking into account that these two great names were ahead of me, I am really happy to be in this (third) position"
| Swimming Medals as of July 25 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | TOTAL | |
| USA | 8 | 7 | 4 | 19 |
| AUS | 5 | 7 | 4 | 16 |
| GER | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| JPN | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| RUS | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| GBR | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| UKR | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| POL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| CHN | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| BLR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| ESP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| FIN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| HUN | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| NED | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| SVK | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| CZE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| DEN | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| CRO | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FRA | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| ITA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| ROM | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 27 | 29 | 25 | 81 | |
