Gone to the archive the third day of competition of the American team’s Olympic swimming trials. To the Lucas Oil Stadium of Indianapolis, the show was not missed and athletes made in the USA showed strong signs of vitality.
It was particularly impressive Regan Smith. In the women’s 100m backstroke, the American stopped the clock at a time of 57.47, new American record and championship record (fourth all-time world time). A crazy pace in the pool, with a passage to the 50 meters of 28.02 and a return of 29.45. At the end of the day Smith, in a semi-final, she swam 0.14 off Australian Kaylee McKeown’s world record, in what could be a real long-distance duel. We’ll see if there will be an attack on the WR in the final act. Also worth considering is the timing of Katharine Berkoff of 57.83, also capable of breaking the 58″ wall.
Staying on the subject of the 100m backstroke, the Olympic passes arrived in the final of the men’s race Ryan Murphy and Hunter Armstrong. For the Fukuoka 2023 world champion of this specialty, four times on the highest podium at the Olympics between individual events and relays, the time was 52.22while Armstrong came second in 52.72. In the seasonal world ranking, Murphy overtook Thomas Ceccon (52.27)second behind the Chinese Jiayu Xu (52.05). The Five Circles challenge has already begun.
However, she did not amaze much in the final of the women’s 100m breaststroke Lilly Kingscored in 1:05.43. The American champion is very far from the Chinese champion’s references Qiantin Tang who with her 1:04.39 presents herself at the starting line of the Games as the n.1 candidate for success. For King it is the fourth world time of the season, in a ranking in which Benedetta Pilate she is seventh in 1:05.75.
Also worth considering is the seal of Katie Ledecky in the women’s 200 freestyle in 1:55.22, but light years away from the stellar times achieved by the Australians Ariarne Titmus (1:52.23 WR) e Mollie O’Callaghan (1:52.48), as well as by the Canadian Summer McIntosh (1:53.69).
