Ryan Lochte leads Team USA in London 2012 preview
Ryan Lochte leads Team USA in London 2012 preview
U.S. swimmers take on Europe’s best in the Duel in the Pool
By Ryan Hurley, Universal Sports | Published: Dec 15, 8:44a ET, Updated: Dec 15, 5:31p ET
Ryan Lochte, Brendan Hansen and Missy Franklin had so much fun in Atlanta two weeks ago at the U.S. Winter Nationals that they are already heading back. This time around they will be competing on the same team, and along with 32 of the top swimmers in the U.S. will take on the best that the Europeans have to offer in the fifth iteration of the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool.
Joining the trio on the U.S. squad is just about every big name in American swimming including Rebecca Soni, Jessica Hardy, Katie Hoff, Tyler Clary and Eric Shanteau.* On paper the U.S. team looks hard to beat, especially with a few key omissions on the European roster. Still the team from across the pond does boast several Olympic veterans including Laszlo Cseh, Markus Rogan and Gemma Spofforth.
Since the Duel in the Pool comes at an intermediate time in the lead up to the 2012 London Olympic Games, swimmers will all be at different points in their training; with a few shaved and tapered, others slightly rested and some still in heavy training. But with national pride and a mental edge heading into the Olympics as added motivators, there will no doubt be several tight races this weekend. There is no word yet on which events each athlete will be swimming, but here are a few match ups to look out for.
Ryan Lochte and Tyler Clary will take on Hungary's Laszlo Cseh, likely in both individual medley events. Lochte has the top times in the world in both the 200m and 400m IM this year, but has been broken down this season, while Clary had an impressive win in the 400m at Winter Nationals and is expected to be rested for the Duel. Looking at the competition, Cseh is not to be taken lightly; having won silver in Beijing in both IM events and placing 3rd at the 2011 World Championships in the 200m IM.
In the women's 100m backstroke, look for Missy Franklin and Natalie Coughlin to team up against Britain's Gemma Spofforth. Coughlin has been Team USA's most consistent 100m backstroker over the past decade, but it looks like Missy Franklin might expand her dominance into Coughlin's territory. Do not rule Spofforth out of contention for the win, especially considering that she is the current world record holder in the event.
In the individual races there will be only three Americans and three Europeans, with the top three finishers scoring 5, 3 and 1 points respectively. Relays will be swam head-to-head with each side only putting up one relay; the winner taking 7 points and the loser taking 0. To ramp up the excitement, the competition kicks off with the 400m medley relay on Friday afternoon and concluded with the 400m free relay on Saturday, leaving the door open for an epic finish.
If you are a fan of Team USA, it's worth noting that they have won all four of the previous Duel in the Pool competitions, beating Australia in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and the Europeans in 2009.
The entire competition will be broadcast live, with the Friday session airing on Universal Sports at 7PM EST and the Saturday session airing on NBC at 2PM EST, and will then be rebroadcast on Universal Sports at 7PM.
*A few of the most notable absentees on the U.S. team are Michael Phelps, Nathan Adrian and Allison Schmitt.
[ source ]
U.S. swimmers take on Europe’s best in the Duel in the Pool
By Ryan Hurley, Universal Sports | Published: Dec 15, 8:44a ET, Updated: Dec 15, 5:31p ET
Ryan Lochte, Brendan Hansen and Missy Franklin had so much fun in Atlanta two weeks ago at the U.S. Winter Nationals that they are already heading back. This time around they will be competing on the same team, and along with 32 of the top swimmers in the U.S. will take on the best that the Europeans have to offer in the fifth iteration of the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool.
Joining the trio on the U.S. squad is just about every big name in American swimming including Rebecca Soni, Jessica Hardy, Katie Hoff, Tyler Clary and Eric Shanteau.* On paper the U.S. team looks hard to beat, especially with a few key omissions on the European roster. Still the team from across the pond does boast several Olympic veterans including Laszlo Cseh, Markus Rogan and Gemma Spofforth.
Since the Duel in the Pool comes at an intermediate time in the lead up to the 2012 London Olympic Games, swimmers will all be at different points in their training; with a few shaved and tapered, others slightly rested and some still in heavy training. But with national pride and a mental edge heading into the Olympics as added motivators, there will no doubt be several tight races this weekend. There is no word yet on which events each athlete will be swimming, but here are a few match ups to look out for.
Ryan Lochte and Tyler Clary will take on Hungary's Laszlo Cseh, likely in both individual medley events. Lochte has the top times in the world in both the 200m and 400m IM this year, but has been broken down this season, while Clary had an impressive win in the 400m at Winter Nationals and is expected to be rested for the Duel. Looking at the competition, Cseh is not to be taken lightly; having won silver in Beijing in both IM events and placing 3rd at the 2011 World Championships in the 200m IM.
In the women's 100m backstroke, look for Missy Franklin and Natalie Coughlin to team up against Britain's Gemma Spofforth. Coughlin has been Team USA's most consistent 100m backstroker over the past decade, but it looks like Missy Franklin might expand her dominance into Coughlin's territory. Do not rule Spofforth out of contention for the win, especially considering that she is the current world record holder in the event.
In the individual races there will be only three Americans and three Europeans, with the top three finishers scoring 5, 3 and 1 points respectively. Relays will be swam head-to-head with each side only putting up one relay; the winner taking 7 points and the loser taking 0. To ramp up the excitement, the competition kicks off with the 400m medley relay on Friday afternoon and concluded with the 400m free relay on Saturday, leaving the door open for an epic finish.
If you are a fan of Team USA, it's worth noting that they have won all four of the previous Duel in the Pool competitions, beating Australia in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and the Europeans in 2009.
The entire competition will be broadcast live, with the Friday session airing on Universal Sports at 7PM EST and the Saturday session airing on NBC at 2PM EST, and will then be rebroadcast on Universal Sports at 7PM.
*A few of the most notable absentees on the U.S. team are Michael Phelps, Nathan Adrian and Allison Schmitt.
[ source ]