OMAHA, Neb. — The U.S. Olympic swim trials have a reputation for being more pressure-packed than the Olympics themselves.
John Criste was a casualty on Monday night.
He came into the 100-meter breaststroke semifinals as the fastest qualifier, cutting a second off his lifetime best and a hundredth of a second quicker than two-time Olympian Brendan Hansen. But Criste failed to move on.
He finished 12th, four places worse than his finish at the 2008 trials, and just the top eight men advanced to the final on Tuesday night. Hansen finished first in the semis, the only man to go under a minute at 59.71 seconds.
Criste's time of 1 minute, 1.27 seconds was 0.98 seconds slower than what he swam in the morning prelims.
Hansen is making a comeback after two consecutive disappointing Olympics. Also on the comeback trail is 2000 Olympian Ed Moses, who earned a silver medal in the 100 breast at Sydney.
Moses didn't get out of the prelims, finishing fifth in his heat at 1:02.22. Now 32, Moses has been away from the sport since 2003, and he was surprised at how big an event the trials has become in the years he was retired.
"People outside said, 'I need tickets,'" he said. "I thought they meant for the baseball game (College World Series)."
Moses wasn't too bummed about not making the semifinals because he'll back on Thursday to compete in the 200 breast.
"My 200 is setting up a little better," he said, noting his time Monday was a lifetime best. "It helps so much to get one under my belt. That will help my confidence."
LOCHTE'S SHOES: Ryan Lochte is a fashion fiend outside of the pool.
The swimmer who introduced diamond-studded grillz to his mouth on the medals podium at the world championships isn't disappointing at trials.
He walked around the deck soaking up applause after winning the 400-meter individual medley wearing winged sneakers. One shoe featured white stars on a blue background; the other had red and white stripes.
"They give me wings," he said, grinning and propping a foot on a railing to give bystanders a better look.
A popular item among Lochte's fans is sunglasses with a red, white and blue pattern that were sold online ahead of trials. Another version is green and yellow and features the words 'Lochte' and 'Jeah' — his favorite made-up expression — on his lens.
TROY'S POSSE: It was a big night for coach Gregg Troy and the swimmers who train with him at Florida.
He landed four on the U.S. Olympic team — Ryan Lochte, Elizabeth Beisel, Conor Dwyer and Peter Vanderkaay — on the first day of the eight-day trials.
"It's a true test to his coaching and a testament to the program," Beisel said. "I'm so fortunate to be able to swim for him. It's not always fun, but we make it fun, and we work really hard, and it's nice that it's all paying off."
Beisel still talks a few times a week with Chuck Batchelor, who guided her during her early years in the sport with Bluefish Swim Club in New England.
"He was the one I was talking to tonight before my race because I was so nervous," she said. "I knew Coach Troy was busy with others on the team, and I can't thank Chuck enough. He's definitely a big part of my swimming, and I still consider him as one of my coaches. For me to be able to have him along with Gregg Troy, I'm really lucky."