Katie Hoff leaves the starting block during her heat in the women’s 200m freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska July 1, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Hoff, however, coming off a world record in the 400m medley on Sunday, qualified for her second Olympic event by touching first in the 400m freestyle with the third best time this year of four minutes, 2.32 seconds.
Day 2 got off to an electric start when McGregory powered home in a time of 59.15 in the heats to steal Coughlin’s world record. But McGregory’s reign lasted only as long as it took Coughlin to complete her heat – the 25-year-old storming to the wall in 59.03 to retake her record.
Neither of them were able to better that time in the semis but set up a mouth-watering showdown in the final.
“It just felt different, my body was a little tight,” McGregory told reporters. “Natalie and I have different strengths and I don’t get to swim against her very often.”
Michael Phelps was left to celebrate his 23rd birthday quietly by qualifying for the 200 metres freestyle final.