Olympic Swim Preview
Opening ceremonies are just hours away and soon the official beginning of the 2012 London Olympics will begin. Swimming will be begin on Saturday and briefly end on August 4th and resume four days later on the 8th. The main swimmers with everyone watching are Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Missy Franklin, Rebecca Soni, Elizabeth Beisel, and the return of Brandon Hansen. Lochte and Phelps are going head to head in the 200 Individual Medley and 400 Individual Medley which both probably finish 1-2. My pick is Phelps edges him in 400 IM and Lochte takes the 200 IM because it’s a shorter distance. Beisel looks to take home Gold in the 400 IM setting the world’s fastest time this year at the Olympic Trials. Missy Franklin has the largest workload of all American swimmers with 6 events (4 individual and 2 relays). She looks to at least medal in each event and will have lots of medals to take back to Colorado. Brandon Hansen is the comeback kid from a disappointing Beijing Olympics finishing 4th in the 100 breast. He looks to return to prominence and close out his swimming career. Soni looks to take gold in the 200m Breastroke and is seeded two seconds better than the competition. Others to watch for are Nathan Adrian, Cullen Jones as they will be members of Phelps and Lochte’s relay teams. United States look to dominate the swimming scene and walk away with the most medals. A few countries to watch out for are Australia, France, Japan, Netherlands.
Phelps looks to become the most decorated Olympian of all time and only needs 2 more medals to achieve that incredible accomplishment. Phelps has already said this is his last Olympics and he wants to explore the world and travel. He certainly has accomplished an amazing track record on a huge worldwide spotlight in international competition. He’s a true pioneer of swimming and has really aided the growth of the sport. Lochte looks to cement himself as an elite swimmer and break away from Phelps’s shadow. Missy Franklin looks to become a teenage sensation and hopefully have a big pay day if she becomes a professional. All eyes will be on America’s swim team as they go for Gold!!!!
Go TEAM USA!!!!!
-Jay Schotter
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July 28, 2012
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