Olympic Trials Semifinal Swim-off: Aaron Shackell Snags Final 200 Free Finals Spot

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Olympic Trials Semifinal Swim-off: Aaron Shackell Snags Final 200 Free Finals Spot

There is nothing like a swim-off at the Olympic Trials.

A spot in the final on the line and the crowd of 20,000-plus on their feet in Indianapolis.

Sunday night’s swim-off had a huge layer added as one of the swimmers was Aaron Shackell, a swimmer from just a few miles away.

The hometown crowd propelled the Carmel, Indiana, swimmer to a win in the 200 freestyle semifinal swim-off.

Shackell finished in 1:46.95 to hold off Wolfpack’s Daniel Diehl, who was just behind in 1:47.16.

The two were stroke for stroke down the stretch, but with a few meters to go, Shackell pulled just ahead and was able to hang on and make the finals.

Both swimmers were extremely close to their time in the actual semifinals when they tied at 1:47.00 earlier on Sunday at the Olympic Trials.

Shackell made the Olympic team on the first day, winning the 400 freestyle, a fitting hometown start for Lucas Oil Stadium.

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