We're covering the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials all week.Brendan Hansen was surprised to lose the 100 meter and 200 meter breaststroke in Athens in 2004, as he was edged for the gold medal by Japan's Kosuke Kitajima. But that was nothing compared to the shock of Thursday night.
Kitajima and Hansen have had a great rivalry that was supposed to be one of the big stories at Beijing. Hansen has been motivated to pay Kitajima back for his pair of wins in 2004, but after a stunning finish, he won't get a chance to get revenge in the 200 meter breaststroke.
Hansen has dominated the 200 meter breaststroke for years, and held the world record until a month ago. But on Thursday, Hansen ran out of gas in the final 50 meters, dropping from first at the final wall to fourth. Scott Spann was the beneficiary, as he hauled down everyone with a blazing final 50 meters to finish first. Eric Shanteau finished second for the other berth.
Elaine Breeden won the women's 200 meter butterfly, while Kathleen Hersey finished second for the other berth. In the men's 100 meter freestyle, Garrett Weber-Gale won while Jason Lesak finished second, but the happiest man had to be Nathan Adrian, who finished fourth to earn a spot on the relay team. Adrian wasn't even supposed to be in the final, but when Ryan Lochte dropped out, Adrian won a swim-off to earn the eighth spot in the finals.
Tonight should be one of the best night's of the trials. Dara Torres, who finished second in the 100 meter semifinals, will try to earn her fifth Olympic berth as a 41-year-old. Most of the women she'll be competing against tonight weren't even born when she competed in the 1984 Olympics. Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte will battle for the 200 IM title, and Aaron Piersol is expected to earn an Olympic berth in the 200 meter backstroke.
