The Phelps factor: Kalisz claims return trip to Olympics

Though Micheal Phelps had retired from swimming five years ago, his impact was felt on the opening night of the U.S Olympic trials. Kalisz, who calls Phelps his big brother, claimed another trip to the Olympics by winning a 400-metre individual medley on Sunday. He said “Micheal Phelps is very supportive and he’ll give me a kick in the butt if I need it, and sometimes I need it. Micheal Phelp has been an older brother to me in my life. I remember interacting with Micheal when I was 6 years old – and here we are 21 years later.

Former swimmer Phelps was impressed with Kalisz’s performance and told the Association Press, “His back half was great, I thought maybe he would go a touch faster. But he’s right there. He took care of what he needed to do.” He also said, “You get the electricity from the fans, I got goosebumps when I entered the arena tonight.” Kalisz took the silver medal in the 400IM at the Rio Olympics, while Litherland finished fifth in that event. They both went to the University of Georgia and still train together.

As Kalisz said “It means the world to have my training partner with me.  He couldn’t qualify for the final of 400IM in the 2019 world championship due to injury. He said “I would say so, I don’t want to say I wasn’t prepared last year, because I was. But I’m 27 now and my body needs to rest a lot than it ever has.”

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