Usher Earns Trip To 2004 Olympic Games With Second Place Finish In 200

Grand Island, Neb. native becomes first ever Wyoming swimmer to be named to the US Olympic Team.

Usher, a Grand Island, Neb. native, swam to a second place time of 2:10.90 in the event.
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July 11, 2004

Laramie, Wyo. -- University of Wyoming junior Scott Usher became the first ever Wyoming swimmer to earn a trip to the Olympic Games after placing second in the 200 meter breaststroke at the 2004 US Olympic Trials in Long Beach, Calif. Sunday night.

Usher, a Grand Island, Neb. native, swam to a second place time of 2:10.90 in the event. Brendan Hansen, of the University of Texas, set a new World record in the event with a first place swim of 2:09.04. Hansen bettered Japan's Kosuke Kitajima's mark of 2:09.42 which was set in July of 2003. This is the second world record set by Hansen as he set a new mark in the 100 breaststroke Thursday night.

Gary Marshall finished the race in third place with a time of 2:13.82, Ed Moses finished fourth in a time of 2:14.12 and Mark Gangloff rounded out the top five in a time of 2:14.17.

Scott Usher comes up for air during his 200 Meter Breastroke final at the U.S. Olympic swim trials in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

"I couldn't be happier for Scott. It is a great day to be a Cowboy," said UW head coach Tom Johnson. "He set up his race perfectly finishing the first 100 meters in fourth or fifth place. He made up significant ground in the third 50 meters before coming roaring home in the final 50 and earning his spot on the Olympic team.

"Scott has always done everything we have ever asked him to do and to see all of his hard work pay off is incredible."

Usher's time of 2:10.90 is currently the fourth fastest time in the World and would have won the Gold Medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Scott Usher, right, gets a hug from Brendan Hansen after Usher finshed second in the Men's 200 meter Breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic swim trials. Hansen won the event in world record time. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Usher will compete for the United States in the 2004 Olympic Games which will be held August 14-29 in Athens, Greece. Preliminary and semi final action of the 100 breaststroke will be held Saturday, Aug. 14 with the finals set for Sunday, Aug. 15. The 200 meter breaststroke will begin on Tuesday, Aug.17 with the finals set for Wednesday, Aug. 18.