Head-to-Head Match-ups

  Jason Lezak vs. Michael Klim 100m free

Australia’s best vs. America’s best. Isn’t that what the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool is all about? Jason Lezak and Michael Klim are the best the two countries have to offer in the 100m free, with each athlete holding his country’s national record in that event.


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Jason Lezak


American record holder
2nd fastest performer of all-time
4th fastest performance of all-time
Best time: 48.17 (2004 Olympic Trials)
Gold: 2004 Short Course Worlds
National titles: 4

Strengths:
Has been America’s best 100m freestyler since 2002…Anchored the world record breaking 400m medley relay at the 2004 Olympics with a blazing split of 47.58…Although he has not won an international medal in the long course 100m free yet, Lezak has great experience racing against the best…Swims for Irvine Novaquatics, so he will be swimming in front of the hometown crowd on familiar turf…Gets up and gets swimming off the start and turn very quickly…Maintains a relatively low stroke rate for a sprinter throughout the race…Good distance per stroke.

Weakness:
Doesn’t always have the strongest finishes.

 Michael Klim


Australian record holder
4th fastest performer of all-time
6th fastest performance of all-time
Best time: 48.18 (2000 Olympics)
Gold: 97 Pan Pacs, 98 Commonwealth Games, 99 Pan Pacs
Silver: 98 Worlds

Strengths:
Former world record holder in the 100m free, 100m fly, and 400m free relay…Current world record holder in the 800m free relay…Klim was once on top of the swimming world…Has a lot of experience racing and winning at major international competition…Won 7 medals (including 4 gold) at the 1998 World Championships…Has made great strides towards being in top form since having ankle, shoulder and back surgery between 2001 and 2003…Has overcome much adversity already just to get to this point in his swimming career…A resilient, fearless racer…Has great Australian pride…Excellent underwater dolphin kicker…Uses his start and underwater kicking ability to get ahead of his competition…Can maintain a high stroke rate throughout the entirety of the race.

Weakness:
Plagued with injuries since 2000, Klim has not been under 49 seconds since the 2000 Olympics.

Race Outlook:

Jason Lezak, the American record holder, will be the odds-on and hometown favorite against Michael Klim, the Australian record holder. Lezak has steadily improved over the last few years to become the fastest American in history, while on the other hand, Klim has been limited from battling numerous injuries since 2000. Klim will still be a force in the race, however, as he posted a 49.02 at the Australian World Trials in March and his condition will undoubtedly improve through August.

Just like the women’s event, the men’s 100 free will be a close, interesting match-up of contrasting race strategies. If Klim is back in 2000 form, the two competitors will be right on top of each other at the turn and the finish. Klim will take advantage of his dolphin kick off the start and turn as much as possible, whereas Lezak is usually the first swimmer to breakout and start swimming in a race. Lezak could possibly take three to four arm strokes before Klim even starts swimming. Another difference between the two is that Lezak races with a much lower stroke rate and gets a lot more distance out of each stroke than Klim. Klim has a straight-arm recovery above the water and moves his arms much faster than Lezak. Expect to see Klim take a slight lead off of the start with his underwater kicking, but Lezak will be more than a match in the swimming portion to make for a great race.