Rule boosts bid of making Tokyo games

Former collegiate standout Remedy Rule gave herself a chance in two events which could make her eligible for more qualifying slots to the Tokyo Olympics.

The Fil-American standout from the University of Texas came near the Olympic Selection Time in the women’s 200-meter freestyle and in the 100-meter butterfly last Friday.

Rule, who competed in the US NCAA competitions during her time in college, clocked a time of two minutes and 1.49 seconds in the preliminaries and 2:01.98 in the finals during the TYR Pro Swim Series at the North East ISD Blossom Athletic Complex.

In doing so, Rule came to within range of the OST-B time of 2:00.80, allowing her to surpass the meet’s US Olympic Trial Wave 1 time of 2:01.69 when action ended in San Antonio, Texas.

If Rule eclipses the OST-B in future events that she will join, she will end up qualifying in around four  events in the Olympiad.

She had already hit the OST-B times in the 200-meter butterfly and in the 100-meter freestyle when Rule saw action for the Philippines in the 2019 Southeast Asean Games.

Her performance put her in 14th place overall and sixth in the B-finals.

“She is doing so well,” said Philippine Swimming Inc. president Lailani Velasco, who is closely monitoring Rule’s progress.

Abby Weitzeil claimed the gold medal in the B-finals in 2:00.11, which is inside the OST-B time.

Allison Schmidt also hit the OST-B time in claiming the silver in 2:00.32.

Overall, Katie Ledecky snared the gold in 1:56.02, which went past the Olympic Qualifying Time of 1:57.28.

 Meanwhile, Rule also tried to breach the OST-B time of 59.66 seconds in the 100-meter butterfly.

She almost did after Rule submitted a time of 1:00.72 to place 16th overall.

Regan broke the OQT of 57.92 seconds in finishing first for the gold in 57.88 seconds.

 Velasco said national swimmers will again try their luck in Mission Viejo, California this April and in Indianapolis this May.

 Earlier, the 24-year-old Rule placed sixth with clockings of two minutes and 11.43 seconds in the preliminaries, and then 2:12.23 in the finals of the women’s 200-meter butterfly.

 Her prelims’ time  put Rule inside the OST qualifying time of 2:12.08.

 On the other hand, Rule’s finals performance  also went past the competition’s Olympic wave II trial time of 2:12.56.

 According to the FINA’s qualification rules, one athlete per event can potentially enter if they meet the Olympic Selection Time or if the quota of 878 athletes has not been reached.

 An OST qualifier will be chosen once athletes who have the Olympic Qualifying Times have been chosen.