2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
“I simply wished to go on the market and have enjoyable…and I undoubtedly did,” Matt Fallon advised a record-breaking crowd of twenty-two,209 followers after qualifying for his first Olympics with a brand new 200 breaststroke American document.
Fallon introduced the American document beneath 2:07 for the primary time, crushing a 2:06.54. The previous American document, held by Josh Prenot at 2:07.17, had stood for eight years. Kevin Cordes, Nic Fink, Will Licon, and Andrew Wilson have all ratted the document within the intermediate eight years with 2:07s of their very own, however Prenot’s document from 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials held agency.
Prime 10 All-Time U.S. Performers, 200 Breast (LCM)
- Matt Fallon, 2:06.54 — 2024
- Josh Prenot, 2:07.17 – 2016
- Kevin Cordes, 2:07.41 – 2017
- Eric Shanteau, 2:07.42 – 2009
- Nic Fink, 2:07.55 – 2019
- Will Licon, 2:07.62 – 2019
- Andrew Wilson, 2:07.77 – 2019
- AJ Pouch, 2:08.00 – 2024
- Jake Foster, 2:08.23 – 2023
- Josh Matheny – 2:08.32 – 2023
Fallon took a run on the document throughout semifinals, swimming 2:07.39 to maneuver as much as second-fastest American all-time. He appeared shocked when he turned to have a look at the time. However tonight, there was no shock, solely pure celebration as he unleashed one of many greatest celebrations but at these Trials.
“I felt actually good about that [semifinal] race,” stated Fallon after his race. “[Tonight] I simply wished to do primarily the identical factor that I did. I used to be robust however nonetheless sort of retaining it somewhat light on the primary 100, don’t wish to exit too quick.”
Fallon is thought for his again half technique. He did use it tonight: he went from fifth on the 50, to 3rd on the 100, and into first by the ultimate flip. “I’ve executed a number of work this 12 months on sort of creating my power whereas nonetheless with the ability to preserve the again half together with it. So my race technique didn’t actually change. I simply actually tried to hammer house that final 50 and I really feel like I actually succeeded there.”
| Matt Fallon – 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials | Josh Prenot – 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials | |
| 50 | 29.19 | 29.21 |
| 100 | 1:01.50 (32.31) | 1:01.67 (32.46) |
| 150 | 1:34.00 (32.50) | 1:34.19 (32.52) |
| 200 | 2:06.54 (32.54) | 2:07.17 (32.98) |
Regardless of Fallon’s back-half expertise, he was really forward of Prenot’s American document tempo all through the race. And it was the final 50 that made the distinction for the 21-year previous College of Pennsylvania scholar. He outsplit Prenot by .44 seconds over the ultimate 50 meters and ended up erasing the document by .63 seconds.
Fallon is the primary Penn scholar to ever make Workforce USA within the pool. And he shared that after his race was the primary time that he’s seen Penn head coach Mike Schnur cry.
Fallon first turned heads three years in the past in Omaha, when he certified in first for the ultimate using his dramatic back-half pace. Solely 18 years previous, Fallon wasn’t in a position to recapture the semifinal magic within the remaining and completed eighth.
He stated post-race that he knew what it felt prefer to be within the prime spot heading into the ultimate however “this morning, afternoon, tonight [was] only a a lot completely different vibe.”
The subsequent qualification meet after 2021 Olympic Trials was 2022 Worldwide Workforce Trials, however Fallon needed to skip the meet as a consequence of a battle with remaining exams. At U.S. Nationals later that summer season he improved his greatest time by a second in 2:07.91.
A again harm stored Fallon out of 2023 NCAAs, however he recovered by U.S. Nationals and was in a position to earn a spot on his first senior worldwide roster for 2023 Worlds. In Fukuoka, Fallon received bronze in one other private bset
The subsequent summer season, he needed to skip the unusually-early US Worldwide Workforce Trials due a battle with remaining exams, however he received the 200 breast at US Nationals later that summer season, enhancing his greatest time by a second with a 2:07.91. Final summer season, he battled again from an harm that stored him out of NCAAs, made the US Worlds staff, then received a bronze medal at Worlds, the place he posted one other greatest time (2:07.74).
This 12 months, Fallon stated that he’s taken a number of time to concentrate on long-course and do a number of race prep. “I knew that I undoubtedly had the potential to [break the record]…I simply wished to get out and do it on the largest stage.”
And given the attendance rely tonight surpassed the earlier document set on Saturday, there was no stage greater for Fallon to place up a particular swim like that.
