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Olympic Trials Preview: Men's 200 Meter Butterfly

Jun 30, 2008 – 5:08 PM
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JJ Cooper

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Over the next few days we will be previewing the races that will be taking place at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

Men's 200 Meter Butterfly

What to watch for: The 200 fly is one of the most grueling events. It combines underwater power as well as precision and technique. Swimmers who can relax their shoulders and use it to their advantage will have more left at the end. In addition, swimmers who stay low to the water and control their breathing patterns will come through this event better than those who do not.

What it takes:
This event is one of Michael Phelps' signature events and is almost synonymous with Phelps' name. But that second Olympic berth is definitely up for grabs, as this is one event where there's not a clear favorite to snag the second spot. In order to grab that second berth, the swimmer is going to need to be unusually focused and ready to race hard to every wall. Every single breath is going to count.

Unlikely underdogs:
Keep an eye on Alex Vanderkaay and Gil Stovall. Both had great NCAA seasons.

My prediction:
Phelps will make another individual event on his quest to be the most decorated Olympian of all time and he'll be joined by Georgia Bulldog Stovall.
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