Thoughts on the Michigan Grand Prix

I don't expect Ryan to swim his fastest times in April. He's usually in hard training and very tired. Plus, I still think he may have some kind of injury, specifically because he didn't swim any IMs (no breaststroke). Here's what The Swimmers Circle had to say:

The Swimmers Circle

http://theswimmerscircle.com/blog/uncategorized/kukors-tops-leverenz-in-200-im-on-day-3-at-eric-namesnik-ann-arbor-grand-prix/

5. Ryan Lochte went a 2:00.21 to take 2nd in this race. Though he is not typically a big in-season performer, but he actually went winless in 6 races this meet. Based on what we saw from both him and Vanderkaay, however, I think that the elite group in Gainesville is putting in some pretty vicious yardage right now, so to hang tough through the 200 back on the last race was as well as could have been expected.

Here is the 200m back video:

Ryan finishes 2nd to Tyler Clary in the 200m back

Ryan had his second silver medal of the meet in the 200m back. His time was 2:00.21 and man did he look tired. Tyler Clary won with a very impressive time of 1:56.61, the 3rd fastest time in the world this year.

Earlier today at the Japanese championships, Ryosuke Irie swam a 1:54.08, which is textile world record and .04 faster than Ryan's time at Pan Pacs last summer (1:54.12). This summer is going to be interesting!!

Tyler Clary had a really good meet and his time in the 200 back is very impressive for this time of year. He has to be extremely tired too. Tyler's other events were 200 free (8th), 400 IM (1st), 200 fly (3rd), 400 free (1st), 200 IM (3rd). Nothing less than a 200 and competing in the "A" final in each event. Very impressive!

Ryan won the "C" final of the 100m free. His time was 51.3.

Ryan is swimming both the 200m back & the 100m free tonight

200m back - "A" final, lane 3

100m free - "C" final, lane 5

Watch live here: http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=2060&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en

or

here: http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=447fb4c3-0dfb-405a-98a5-dfbaa63096b8.html#watch+live+now+swimming+finals

Just a note though - universal sports doesn't show "C" finals.

Michigan Grand Prix - Sunday finals

In this morning's prelims, Ryan qualified for the "A" final in the 200m back and the "C" final in the 100m free.

200m back

Tyler Clary: 2:00.92

Leonardo Fim: 2:02.38

Ryan Lochte: 2:02.64

100m free

Ryan Lochte:  51.46 (25.16)(26.30)

Ryan finished 21st overall in the prelims.  Here it appears he didn't get a good start because his first lap (25.16) was much slower than the others.  The second lap (26.30) was pretty good.

Here are videos of Ryan's races this weekend:

100m back

Michigan Grand Prix - 100m back results

Ryan placed second in the 100m back. His time was 54.81. Not bad!

Here were the top 3:

Michael Phelps: 54.15 (26.92)(27.23)

Ryan Lochte: 54.81 (26.92)(27.89)

David Nolan 55.10 (27.11)(27.99)

Very impressed with David Nolan, an 18 yr old who is going to Stanford next year. He really hung in there with MP & Ryan.

I know Nick Thoman, David Plummer and Matt Grevers weren't swimming at this GP, but it's good to see Ryan do so well in the 100 back. He has to be thinking of it as a possibility for Olympic trials.

p.s. I watched tonight's event live on facebook via Universalsports. I know it's a short event, but it was disappointing that the announcers (Rowdy Gaines & Paul Sunderland) didn't say much of anything about David Nolan and never said who finished 2nd and 3rd.

Michigan Grand Prix - Saturday finals

Ryan scratched the 200m fly final and is swimming in the 100m back "A" final only. Finals begin at 5:30 EDT.

Watch live here: http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=2060&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en

or here: http://www.facebook.com/UniversalSports?sk=app_201203333247367

Live results here: http://www.mgoblue.com/livestats/m-swim/index.htm

Gary Hall Sr. interviews Ryan Lochte

I'm a little late with this, but here is a video of Gary Hall, Sr. interviewing Ryan at the Speedo South Sectionals meet in Ft. Lauderdale. I've always been impressed and intrigued with Gary Hall's swim team - The Race Club. If I was a professional swimmer, I'd want to train in the Florida Keys!!

Ryan says how tall he is!!

Here is the interview: