Ryan placed third in his heat and fifth overall with a time of 48.91. Word is he has scratched from Friday night's finals, because he presumably will swim in the 200 back and 200 IM semi-finals that same night. Having the 100 free final sandwiched in between those two semi-finals proved to be too much.
I guess it is no surprise my theory that Ryan would swim the finals of the 100m free is wrong. It seemed like that was the surest way he could qualify for all three relays and five individual events, so I thought maybe that was the plan. As it turns out, Ryan has wisely decided to take a more conservative approach and swim the same program he swam at last year's World Championships, with the possibility of swimming the 4 x 100 free relay in the prelims at the Olympics depending on the times in the finals on Friday night.
Whether Ryan's time of 48.91 is sufficient to get him on the 4 x 100 free relay remains to be seen. Ryan's only chance of making the 4 x 100 medley relay is if he puts up a great time in the 100 fly. I predict he will scratch the 100m fly and give up the medley relay.
If Ryan qualifies for the 200 back and 200 IM as expected, he will be swimming 5 events for sure in the Olympics and will have a chance to win a gold medal in all 5. He also will have the chance to possibly swim the 4 x 100 free relay, which would add a 6th event.
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