Lochte, U.S. Dominate Pan-Pacs

With Michael Phelps dropping out of the 200 IM to focus on the medley relay, Ryan Lochte was the presumed favorite. Truthfully though, even if Phelps had competed Lochte would have cruised to yet another gold. He almost set the world record (which he owns), swimming a 1:54.43 to set the Pan Pacs record, set by Phelps four years ago. For his exploits, Lochte was named the swimmer of the meet and while Phelps still has the higher ceiling, there is no doubt that Lochte is the best swimmer in the world at the moment. The Worlds in Shanghai next year will probably provide a better measuring stick as to which American is truly the best, but if you’re a sports fan at all the 2012 Olympic swimming events will be must see TV.

As mentioned before, Phelps dropped out of the 200 IM to focus on the medley relay, and thankfully so as the US had to comeback to beat Japan. Aaron Piersol (backstroke) and Mark Gangloff (breaststroke) had the US in contention after the first half, but Phelps (butterfly) overtook Masayuki Kishida on the second half of his leg and gave Nathan Adrian (freestyle) a lead he wouldn’t relinquish.

Speaking of Adrian, he swept the freestyle sprints, winning the 50m with a time of 21.55 seconds. Brazil’s Caesar Cielo Filho finished second and, for now, will have to relinquish his title as fastest man in the pool.

The American men and women swept all the relays.

While this isn’t a huge meet, it was a dominant one for US Swimming and a celebration is in order. So how is the best swimmer on Earth celebrating?

Vegas of course

Lochte Wins 400 IM at Pan-Pacs

It was a night to remember for US swimming as a whole, but Ryan Lochte shone brightest as he won the 400 IM with a very impressive 4:07.59 time that saw him be under the world record pace for much of the race. Fellow American Tyler Clary finished 2nd, but surprisingly Michael Phelps didn’t even qualify for the final. This was because of a rule that states a country can have a maximum of two swimmers in the final. Phelps’s prelim time was 4th fastest, but both Lochte and Clary were faster.

In the 100m freestyle, Nathan Adrian set a Pan Pacs record, while Rebecca Soni swam the 3rd fastest time ever in the women’s 100m breaststroke.

Natalie Coughlin won her third consecutive 100m freestyle in the Pan Pacs, and both the mens and women’s 4X200 freestyle relay teams set Pan Pacs records.

Ryan Lochte: The Most Overshadowed Athlete on Earth

Ryan Lochte is easily the 2nd best all around swimmer on the planet. He has multiple NCAA, Olympic and World titles. Unfortunately for him, because of some Phelps guy he is routinely overshadowed in the pool.

But perhaps not for much longer.

At the 2009 World Championships in Rome, Lochte won the 200 and 400 IMs. In the 200 IM, Lochte narrowly bested Phelps’s world record in the event. For those golds, plus a gold in the 4X200m freestyle relay and a bronze in the 200m backstroke, Lochte was named swimmer of the meet.

Lochte continued his hot swimming at the recently competed USA National Championships, where he won the 400 IM by nearly 5 seconds over 2nd place Tyler Clary, was just outtouched in the 200m freestyle by Phelps (whose time was the best in the world in 2010), was just outtouched in the 100m freestyle (where he beat 100m specialists Jason Lezak and Garret Weber-Gale), beat Phelps by over a second in the 200 IM, and beat Aaron Piersol in the 200m backstroke finals.

While Phelps admitted he isn’t in great shape yet (and still won 3 events), Lochte is poised to be a multiple gold medalist in 2012, and will most certainly shed the most overshadowed athlete on the planet label.

Swimming Nationals Day 1 and 2 Updates

2008 Gold medalist Peirsol didn't have as much luck last night

Michael Phelps made a triumphant return to the pool, but a 2008 Olympic Gold medalist had problems at the USA Nationals.

Less than two months after some questions arose about Phelps’s recent form the best swimmer in the world clocked in a 1:45.61 in the 200 free, which is the fastest time in the world in 2010 so far. Ryan Lochte, who would be Michael Phelps if not for Phelps himself, had the 2nd fastest time both in the race and in the world this year.

Phelps also won the 200 fly by more than a second, but was unhappy with the race. It was roughly 5 seconds slower than his world record effort, which he set just last year.

Aaron Peirsol, the best backstroker in the world, didn’t have the same type of day. He was upset by Minnesota native David Plummer in the 100 back. Peirsol will still make the team for the Pan Pacific games, but it was the first event at a national championships he hadn’t won since 2000.

In other races, Natalie Coughlin won the 100 back and Allison Schmitt won the 200 free. On Monday, qualifiers were determined in the women’s 100 fly (Christy Magnuson and Dana Vollmer), the mens 400 free (Peter Vanderkaay and Michael Klueh), womens 200 IM (Ariana Kukors and Caitlin Leverenz), mens 100 breaststroke (Mike Alexandrov and Mark Gangloff), women’s 400 free (Katie Hoff and Allison Schmitt), and men’s 400 IM (Ryan Lochte and Tyler Clary)

The nationals continue tomorrow through August 7th