Krayzelburg Aims for a Sharper Final Showing

Lenny Krayzelburg is heading into tonight’s 100-meter backstroke final at the U.S. swim trials, but the three-time Olympic gold medalist wasn’t too happy with the way he qualified for the event Thursday.

“I was pretty disappointed with the swim this afternoon,” he said. “It didn’t feel good. I had a hard time getting going. I wasn’t that comfortable going out. It didn’t feel that sharp.”

Krayzelburg finished fifth in the semifinals in 55.05 seconds, well behind first-place finisher Aaron Peirsol’s time of 54.22. To win tonight, Krayzelburg said he would have to finish in at least 54.2.

Peirsol said he thought Krayzelburg could do that “any day.”

“Lenny’s going to go fast; it doesn’t matter what he swam tonight,” he said. “He’s the most dangerous guy in that field.”

Peirsol said he swam the race unshaven, something he said “could change everything.” His time was his best unshaven time by about seven-tenths of a second, he said.

Krayzelburg, who opted not to wear a cap Thursday night, said tonight’s race would be a tough one.

“There’s no choice, you just have to go out for it and that’s the plan, just go out hard and just fight to the wall,” he said.

Whoever wins tonight will have a guaranteed spot on the U.S. team.

First-place finishers in all events automatically qualify for the 26-member team. The top four finishers in the 100- and 200-meter freestyles also qualify, to make up relay teams.

After that, second-place finishers in each event are put on the team. If spots are still available, the fifth-place finishers in the 100- and 200-meter freestyles are added. Then, if necessary, the sixth-place finishers in the 100- and 200-meter freestyles are chosen.

USA Swimming officials said they could not recall a second-place finisher ever being shut out of an Olympic team.

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The second night of the trials was attended by 8,408 spectators. USA Swimming officials said tickets for this weekend’s events are still available and no events have been sold out.