Record-breaking Matthew Fallon leads young contingent on U.S. men’s Olympic swim team
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Yueke
Wed, Jun 26, 2024
Record-breaking Matthew Fallon leads young contingent on U.S. men’s Olympic swim team
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Matthew Fallon’s record-breaking swim at the U.S. Olympic trials has thrust him into the spotlight as he heads to Paris later this summer.
Teenager Thomas Heilman is still trying to ignore the comparisons with Michael Phelps.
Now they’re teaming up to give the American men a whole new look.
Fallon broke Josh Prenot’s 8-year-old American record by nearly three-quarters of a second in the 200-meter breaststroke, while the 17-year-old Heilman won the 200 butterfly to become the youngest male U.S. swimmer on the Olympic roster since Michael Phelps did it in 2000 as a 15-year-old.
“I know I’ve had it in me this entire time. I just wanted to really be able to get out and do it on the biggest stage,” Fallon said after beating Josh Matheny to the wall in 2 minutes, 6.54 seconds. “Having two young guys qualified in an event that’s typically considered an old guy’s event, I think you’re definitely seeing a little bit of the changing of the guard.”
Fallon may be understating it just a bit.
Heilman became the second swimmer in two nights to hold the title of youngest qualifier, following another young swimmer who finished second in the 800 freestyle behind defending Olympic champ Bobby Finke.
Whitlock also broke Phelps' age-group record for 17- and 18-year-olds during the 400 freestyle prelims Saturday, but his qualification swim Tuesday night upstaged Saturday night’s other standout performance by another Indianapolis-area teenager. Shackell won’t turn 19 until December.
Yes, an American team that was long dominated by names such as Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and even Caeleb Dressel is suddenly giving way to a new generation of potential stars.
“I try not to think about it. I try not to worry about those comparisons too much,” Heilman said, referring to the scuttlebutt about him possibly emerging as the next Phelps. “But, honestly, the people around me keep me grounded. Obviously, it starts with my family and then my teammates and coaches do a great job of not trying to make me out to be anything special.”
It’s not just that these are the young guns of American men’s swimming, either.
While Whitlock plans to attend one college swimming power, Florida, in the fall, and Matheny hails from another prominent program, Indiana, Fallon is the first American Olympic swimmer to come out of the University of Pennsylvania. Chris Guiliano, age 20, also became the first Olympic swimmer from Notre Dame earlier this week by winning the 100 freestyle Wednesday.
As for Heilman, he will try to help the University of Virginia men’s program match the recent success its women’s program has had — starting in 2025.
For now, each of these young Olympians has more immediate goals.
“I don’t really know what some of the best swimmers in the world have in store for the Olympics,” Fallon said. “I just feel some of them haven’t really put all their cards out there yet, but we’ll see what happens.”
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AP Summer Olympics:
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Matthew Fallon’s record-breaking swim at the U.S. Olympic trials has thrust him into the spotlight as he heads to Paris later this summer.
Teenager Thomas Heilman is still trying to ignore the comparisons with Michael Phelps.
Now they’re teaming up to give the American men a whole new look.
Fallon broke Josh Prenot’s 8-year-old American record by nearly three-quarters of a second in the 200-meter breaststroke, while the 17-year-old Heilman won the 200 butterfly to become the youngest male U.S. swimmer on the Olympic roster since Michael Phelps did it in 2000 as a 15-year-old.
“I know I’ve had it in me this entire time. I just wanted to really be able to get out and do it on the biggest stage,” Fallon said after beating Josh Matheny to the wall in 2 minutes, 6.54 seconds. “Having two young guys qualified in an event that’s typically considered an old guy’s event, I think you’re definitely seeing a little bit of the changing of the guard.”
Fallon may be understating it just a bit.
Heilman became the second swimmer in two nights to hold the title of youngest qualifier, following another young swimmer who finished second in the 800 freestyle behind defending Olympic champ Bobby Finke.
Whitlock also broke Phelps' age-group record for 17- and 18-year-olds during the 400 freestyle prelims Saturday, but his qualification swim Tuesday night upstaged Saturday night’s other standout performance by another Indianapolis-area teenager. Shackell won’t turn 19 until December.
Yes, an American team that was long dominated by names such as Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and even Caeleb Dressel is suddenly giving way to a new generation of potential stars.
“I try not to think about it. I try not to worry about those comparisons too much,” Heilman said, referring to the scuttlebutt about him possibly emerging as the next Phelps. “But, honestly, the people around me keep me grounded. Obviously, it starts with my family and then my teammates and coaches do a great job of not trying to make me out to be anything special.”
It’s not just that these are the young guns of American men’s swimming, either.
While Whitlock plans to attend one college swimming power, Florida, in the fall, and Matheny hails from another prominent program, Indiana, Fallon is the first American Olympic swimmer to come out of the University of Pennsylvania. Chris Guiliano, age 20, also became the first Olympic swimmer from Notre Dame earlier this week by winning the 100 freestyle Wednesday.
As for Heilman, he will try to help the University of Virginia men’s program match the recent success its women’s program has had — starting in 2025.
For now, each of these young Olympians has more immediate goals.
“I don’t really know what some of the best swimmers in the world have in store for the Olympics,” Fallon said. “I just feel some of them haven’t really put all their cards out there yet, but we’ll see what happens.”
___
AP Summer Olympics:
Freddy Peralta Outduels Tyler Anderson in the Brewers’ 2-0 Win Over the Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Freddy Peralta struck out eight over six innings of three-hit ball, outdueling Tyler Anderson in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.
Rhys Hoskins and Willy Adames drove in runs for the Brewers, who took two of three in Anaheim to open their Southern California road trip.
Peralta (5-4) rebounded from a pair of rough outings against Cincinnati and Detroit with a strong effort against the punchless Angels. Although he walked two and wasn’t particularly efficient, Peralta repeatedly escaped trouble.
“Everything was a little clearer for me today because I had the right mindset,” Peralta said. “I worked on that the last four or five days. ... Sometimes I ask for too much of myself, and I put myself in a hard situation. My family tries to help me sometimes, because they know how I am. I just try to relax a little bit.”
Los Angeles got two runners into scoring position in the sixth, but Peralta retired Logan O’Hoppe on a hot grounder up the middle with his final pitch.
“I thought Freddy was terrific,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “His focus was consistent. ... He expects this. He expects six shutout (innings) every time, and it’s hard. He’s been around a while. Guys know him, and guys are gunning for him and getting up for him. I’m really proud of Freddy battling the way he did tonight.”
Bryan Hudson pitched two innings of relief before Huntington Beach native Trevor Megill finished Milwaukee’s four-hitter and its fourth shutout win of the season with his 15th save.
Anderson (6-7) held his opponents to one run for the sixth time in his last seven starts, but lost for the third time in that stretch. The veteran lefty allowed four hits and three walks over seven sharp innings, striking out five.
“That’s what it was, a pitchers’ duel,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “(Anderson) really settled down and spotted his fastball. He kept them off the barrel. He was working fast. He was very efficient. I just feel that he didn’t get a chance to win that ballgame.”
The Angels managed only four singles while getting shut out for the third time this season. Los Angeles’ offense struggled mightily after the first four innings of this series Monday, scoring runs only once in its final 22 innings against the Brewers’ pitching staff.
“Peralta is not just some run-of-the-mill-type pitcher,” Washington said. “He’s got weapons. It was a great pitching duel. We just came out on the wrong end. We had opportunities.”
Three of Milwaukee’s first four batters reached base before Hoskins’ flyout in the first inning. Kevin Pillar made a sprinting, sliding catch on Sal Frelick’s fly down the right-field line to limit the damage.
Christian Yelich walked, stole second, and scored on Adames’ soft single off Luis García in the eighth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: INF Brandon Drury was scratched from the starting lineup two hours before game time due to an illness. The veteran had played two games since returning Monday from a 34-game absence with a hamstring injury.
UP NEXT
Brewers: Bryse Wilson (4-3, 3.84 ERA) takes the mound Thursday in San Diego to begin a four-game series with the Padres.
Angels: Patrick Sandoval (2-8, 5.24 ERA) will take the mound up the road at Dodger Stadium on Friday to begin a two-game Freeway Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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AP MLB:
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