Missy Franklin, Ryan Lochte Struggle Against Rising Stars at US Trials; Phelps Dominates
Another Olympic gold medalist, Jessica Hardy, finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke to also miss out on the U.S. team
By Paul Newberry ••
One by one, some of America's biggest swimming stars are going down at the Olympic trials.
First, Ryan Lochte. Then, Missy Franklin.
Lochte, an 11-time Olympic medalist but slowed by a groin injury, missed out on his second chance to make the team in an individual event with a fourth-place finish in the 200-meter freestyle. There was some consolation: Lochte at least clinched a spot in the 4x200 relay, so he'll be in Rio.
Franklin can't say that yet. The bubbly star of the 2012 London Games struggled to a seventh-place finish in the 100 backstroke, denying her a chance to defend the gold medal she won four years ago.
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Racing just 23 minutes after qualifying for the final of the 200 free, the 21-year-old Franklin couldn't pull off the grueling double. She finished nearly a body length behind winner Olivia Smoliga and runner-up Kathleen Baker, who will represent the U.S. in what was once Franklin's signature event.
Franklin was nearly 2 seconds off her winning time in London, touching in 1 minute, 0.24 seconds. Smoliga won in 59.02 seconds, followed by Baker at 59.29.
"It's going to be really hard not to be in that (event) this summer," Franklin said. "But I cannot wait to watch how Olivia and Kathleen do, and I can't wait to see what they're capable of."
The only swimmer to finish behind Franklin was 12-time medalist Natalie Coughlin. The 33-year-old likely missed out on her best chance to make the team in an individual event, though there's a chance she could still qualify in a relay.
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These Athletes Won't Be Competing in The Rio Summer Olympics.
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Roger Federer will be missing the Rio Olympics as well as the rest of the 2016 season because of a knee injury. "Considering all options after consulting with my doctors and my team, I have made the very difficult decision to call an end to my 2016 season as I need more extensive rehabilitation following my knee surgery earlier this year," Federer announced on Facebook.
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The International Golf Federation's president announced on July 11 that Spieth, the world's No. 3 golfer, would not compete, citing "health reasons."
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Curry, who sprained his MCL in the first round of the NBA playoffs, says he is sitting out the Olympics to focus on recovering after a grueling season with the Golden State Warriors. "It’s an incredible honor to represent your country and wear ‘USA’ on your chest, but my primary basketball-related objective this summer needs to focus on my body and getting ready for the 2016-17 NBA season,” he said.
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Jason Day, the world's No. 1 golfer, announced he was skipping the Olympics because of concerns about the Zika virus. "The sole reason for my decision is my concerns [sic] about the possible transmission of the Zika virus and the potential risks that it may present to my wife's future pregnancies and to future members of our family," Day said.
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Van Garderen, a member of the 2012 USA Olympic cycling team, opted out of the selection process, citing his wife's pregnancy and Zika virus fears as his main reason. “If Jessica were not pregnant right now, assuming I was selected, I would go,” van Garderen told CyclingTips.
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Griffin, who plays for the Clippers, sat out most of the NBA playoffs because of a quadriceps injury, and will be missing the Olympics as well. He received a bone marrow transplant to his left quadricep in late April and is still recovering.
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Isner, America's top tennis star who is ranked No. 16 globally, is sitting out the Olympics because it will not help improve his ranking. He's opted to participate in the BB&T Atlanta Open in Georgia instead, where he can earn ranking points. "I would say (it's been) 70 to 80 percent, probably, negative feedback I have received," he said of the responses to his decision.
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LeBron James, the 2016 NBA Finals MVP, withdrew from consideration for Team USA after leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA title this year. “I could use the rest,” James told Cleveland.com.
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The three-time Olympic medalist and second-fastest woman of all time told fans a leg injury will keep her from attending the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in July.
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In this July 3, 2016, file photo, Dustin Johnson tees off on the second hole during the final round of the Bridgestone Invitational golf tournament at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Johnson released a statement through one of his representatives on Friday, July 8, 2016, that he is withdrawing from the Olympics because he is concerned about the Zika virus.
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Leonard withdrew from consideration for Team USA, saying “It’s an honor to have been considered for the team and I hope that in the future I will have the chance to represent my country by playing for USA Basketball.”
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McIlroy, of Ireland, is skipping this summer Olympics because of concerns about the Zika virus. "Even though the risk of infection from the Zika virus is considered low," McIlroy said, "it is a risk nonetheless and a risk I am unwilling to take."
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The Clippers player said he is sitting out this Olympics, saying his body needs some down time. Paul, who previously played in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, said, "I feel my body telling me that I could use the time."
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Singh says he's decided not to compete in the Olympics because he's afraid of contracting the Zika virus. "I would like to play the Olympics, but the Zika virus, you know and all that crap," he told GolfChannel.com.
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Wall, who plays for the Washington Wizards, opted out of playing for Team USA, citing a knee injury.
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After a demanding season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook has decided to skip the Rio Olympics. He released a statementsaying, "After speaking with my family, I have decided to not participate in this year’s Olympics. This was not an easy decision, as representing my country at the World Championships in 2010 and the Olympics in 2012 were career highlights for me. I look forward to future opportunities as a member of USA Basketball."
Coughlin's result was not unexpected as she winds down her career. Franklin's downfall is shocking, though not a total surprise.
The 21-year-old has struggled since turning pro last summer and seems a bit overwhelmed by the enormous expectations she faced going into an Olympic year, knowing everyone — fans, sponsors, media, fellow athletes — expected her to burn even brighter after she claimed four golds and a bronze while still just a high schooler in London.
"I am feeling more pressure than I ever have before, but that's all part of the process ... learning how to deal with it and learning how to move forward," Franklin said. "All I can do is the best I can do."
In the men's 200 free, Lochte was second at the final turn but couldn't hold on, either. Townley Haas surged to the victory in 1:45.66, just a hundredth of a second ahead of Conor Dwyer, who clinched his second individual event in Rio after also taking second in the 400 free.
"I'm just happy that I'm going to Rio," Lochte said, sounding downright relieved. "You can never go in knowing that you're going to make the team, just because the U.S. is one of the hardest countries to make the Olympic team."
For good measure, another stalwart of the 2012 U.S. team failed to qualify. Matt Grevers, the defending Olympic gold medalist in the men's 100 backstroke, finished third behind Ryan Murphy and David Plummer.
Murphy won in 52.26, edging Plummer's time of 52.28. Grevers touched in 52.76.
"It wasn't that tight. They beat me by a half-second," Grevers said. "I think I'm a little stunned. I think after I let it sink in, I'll be more distraught than I currently am."
Yet another Olympic gold medalist, Jessica Hardy, finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke to also miss out on the U.S. team. Lilly King and Katie Meili were 1-2 in the final, extending what has become a definite changing of the guard in Omaha.
Ten of the swimmers who claimed likely spots for Rio on Tuesday night will be first-time Olympians.
Over the first three days of the trials, that number could be as high as 17 — a drastic makeover for the world's greatest swimming nation.
But a couple of the most recognizable names are doing just fine.
Katie Ledecky is living up to her staggering expectations, and the most decorated Olympian of them all, Michael Phelps, looked as dominant as ever in his first event of the meet.
Ledecky was easily the top qualifier in the semifinals of the 200 free at 1:55.10, more than a second ahead of everyone else, as she looks to add a second event to her Rio schedule. She already won the 400 free, will be an overwhelming favorite in the 800 free and also entered the 100 free.
Franklin was fourth-fastest at 1:57.33, leaving her little chance of knocking off Ledecky but more hopeful that she could at least get the second spot in Wednesday's final to claim an individual race in Rio. A top-six finish likely would be good enough to put her on the team in the 4x200 relay.
"Right now, I need to make the team in whatever way that looks like," Franklin said, a tinge of desperation in her voice.
Then there's Phelps, who already has 18 golds and 22 medals overall — and came out of retirement seeking to win a few more before he calls it quits again.
He was more than a second ahead of the next-fastest swimmer in the semifinals of the 200 butterfly, powering through the water with ease while his 7-week-old son, Boomer, watched from the stands, his mother covering the infant's ears as the crowd roared for his dad.
Phelps, whose time was 1:55.17, couldn't help but notice all the newcomers on the U.S. team.
"I don't even know half of them," he said. "It's exciting to have new faces, where people are really pumped to come up in the sport. That's a good thing to see as I'm on my way out."
