Piersol beats Phelps in backstroke again at Olympics qualifier tuneup
Associated Press
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Michael Phelps is widely recognized as America's best male swimmer but the eight-time Olympic medalist still hasn't beaten Aaron Peirsol in the backstroke.
Peirsol held off Phelps again in the 200 backstroke but only by a fingertip, touching the wall in 1 minute, 55.81 seconds to win at the Santa Clara Grand Prix on Saturday night. Phelps was second at 1:55.84.
"It was a wonderful race, I knew it was going to be," Peirsol said. "We kind of have a history of that. Fortunately today I just got my hand on the wall first."
The reigning Olympic champion, Peirsol clocked the fastest time in the world this year while Phelps now owns the second-fastest time after the close finish.
"It's how it always is when we race," Phelps said. "I feel like he brings the best out of me every time. I love getting in there and racing him. I'm still winless, though."
The race between Peirsol and Phelps was the feature event of the day but not the only highlight.
Peter Vanderkaay set the American record in the men's 400 freestyle, winning in 3:43.82.
"I felt good this morning, had a good swim last night so I wanted to see how fast I could go," Vanderkaay said. "I didn't really expect to (beat) the record but it feels great."
With Club Wolverine teammate Phelps cheering him on, Vanderkaay dominated the race, touching the wall two lengths ahead of Erik Vendt. A gold medalist on the 800 relay team in the 2004 Olympics, Vanderkaay knocked more than 7 seconds off his qualifying time.
Vanderkaay's American record breaks the mark of 3:44.11 set by Klete Keller on Aug. 14, 2004. It is also the sixth-fastest time in the event. Ian Thorpe of Australia holds the world record of 3:40.08.
"I still have some more training to do and some rest to get under my belt but I think I can go faster," said Vanderkaay, who set a meet record in the 200 free on Friday. "It shows where I am right now and hopefully what I can do."
World record-holder Natalie Coughlin broke her own meet record in the 100 back, winning in 59.44 seconds. It's the second-fastest time for the five-time Olympic medalist and comes only six weeks before the U.S. Olympic Trials begin in Omaha, Neb.
Despite finishing first, though, Coughlin's time was the last one revealed on the scoreboard and caused her a few anxious moments while she waited to learn if she had broke her own world record.
"It was just a little annoying," Coughlin said. "I was hoping for a best time tonight but that's very, very good. It's very reassuring that I'm doing what I need to do in training and it just gives me a lot of confidence going into the next couple months."
Elizabeth Beisel won the women's 400 IM (4:36.75) and Australia's Bronte Barratt took the 200 free (1:57.18). Both are meet records.
Phelps also set a meet record in the 100 fly (51.61) but it was his duel with Peirsol that stood out.
Swimming in lanes next to each another, the two were almost dead even through 150 meters before Peirsol took a slight edge coming off the wall for the final turn. Phelps closed the gap down the stretch but Peirsol held him off for the win.
"I was trying to get the push for the third 50 but he stayed there so I thought, OK, it's going to be that kind of race and it was," Peirsol said. "He motored home pretty well in the last 50 and I was able to hold him off."
Phelps, who a day earlier complained about his backstroke tempo while winning the 400 IM, was happy despite finishing second.
"It was a dogfight to the wall," Phelps said. "It seems like every time I get in the water with him he snakes me at the finish."
USA swimming officials want lawsuit resolved: A top USA Swimming official said Friday he hopes a lawsuit accusing the governing body of being in cahoots with Speedo will be resolved quickly so athletes can focus on the Beijing Olympics.
Chuck Wielgus, executive director of the national governing body, also disputed claims by California-based TYR Sport that USA Swimming and its head coach, Mark Schubert, were trying to persuade American swimmers to switch to Speedo's revolutionary "LZR Racer" suit even if they have sponsorship deals with other companies.
"While we cannot comment on pending litigation, it is important to note that USA Swimming does not dictate which brand of personal competitive gear our national team athletes wear," Wielgus said in a statement. "Rather, U.S. athletes are free to wear their preferred brand of suit, cap and goggles."
With the Olympic trials in Omaha, Neb., less than two months away, TYR filed a federal antitrust lawsuit this week against Speedo's parent company, USA Swimming and Schubert.
"We hope that this matter can be resolved quickly so that all athletes currently preparing for the U.S. Olympic team trials can be free from this unfortunate distraction," Wielgus said.
Natalie Coughlin, competing at the Santa Clara Grand Prix in California, said she's aggravated that so much attention is going toward the suits instead of the swimmers. She was one of the Speedo-sponsored athletes who helped develop the LZR Racer.
"It's not magical," Coughlin said after breaking her own U.S. record in the 100 freestyle. "I just think the hype surrounding it is really irritating. I'm so glad it's successful, but it's like almost too much."
TYR's case focuses on Speedo's financial relationship with USA Swimming and its top coach, calling Schubert a "paid spokesman" for the company.
The lawsuit cites numerous examples of Schubert touting the benefits of wearing the LZR Racer, including his endorsement last month during the short course world championships, where numerous world records were set, mostly by Speedo swimmers.
Since the LZR Racer's unveiling in mid-February, swimmers wearing the suit have set a staggering 37 world records and rekindled the debate over whether technology has too much influence over the sport. World governing body FINA has repeatedly upheld the legality of Speedo's design and will hold a special meeting next month to rule on the legality of new suits designed by rival companies in response to the LZR.
"The people breaking these world records either had them or were really close to them before," Coughlin said. "So it does, I think, take a little bit away from the swimmers. It's just a little irritating."
