OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Michael Phelps stayed on course to swim eight events at the London Olympics with a dominating win in the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. swimming trials Thursday night.
He trailed Davis Tarwater at the first and second turns, but there’s was never any doubt that Phelps would pull ahead in his signature stroke. He surged ahead on the third leg and was a body-length ahead of the field when he touched in 1 minute, 53.65 seconds.
The real race was for second place — and a spot on the Olympic team. Tyler Clary, who lost out to Phelps in the 400 individual medley, rallied from behind for a time of 1:55.12, edging Bouiller’s time of 1:55.79.
Clary pumped his right fist and pounded the water when he saw the scoreboard.
Women’s 200 freestyle: Allison Schmitt has added another race to her growing Olympic schedule, winning the 200-meter freestyle.
Schmitt broke her own American record with a time of 1 minute, 54.40 seconds, the best in the world this year. Already the 400 free winner in Omaha, she set the previous national record in the 2009 world championships.
Missy Franklin claimed the second 200 spot on the team for London, rallying from fifth place at the first turn to take the runner-up spot in 1:56.79.
Dana Vollmer and Lauren Perdue finished third and fourth, assuring themselves of being in the pool for the 800 free relay. Shannon Vreeland (fifth) and Alyssa Anderson (sixth) also are likely to be taken to London as potential relay swimmers.
British Men’s Soccer: David Beckham says he has failed to make the British Olympic soccer team.
The former England captain made Stuart Pearce’s shortlist of 35 but wasn’t selected for the final 18-man squad as one of three players over the age of 23 allowed to compete in the London Olympics.
“Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me, so I would have been honored to have been part of this unique Team GB squad,” Beckham said Thursday in a statement to The Associated Press. “Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me. And like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold.”
Beckham had been heavily favored to be on the team after being instrumental in helping Sebastian Coe, the head of the London organizing committee, and his team win the rights to stage the games in the 2005 vote.
Men’s gymnastics: So much for the U.S. men’s gymnastics team being a two-man show.
Sam Mikulak was impressive during the first day of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials, threatening to break up the grip national champion John Orozco and Danell Leyva have on the role of top Americans heading into the London Olympics.
Looking as relaxed as if he was competing in a college dual meet for Michigan, the 2011 NCAA champion posted an all-around score of 91.80, the best on a day many of the other contenders to make the five-man Olympic team faltered.
Leyva moved past Orozco into first place in the overall standings, which combine scores from nationals and trials, but couldn’t top Mikulak, at least for a couple of hours. Mikulak remains third in the overall standings but drew closer to the top two heading into the finals Saturday.
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