The US Open Swimming Championship has witnessed several budding swimming talents stand on the occasion. For Cody Miller, the time has panned out differently. The swimming phenom does not appear in the pool as frequently as he used to in a time.

But when he appears in his swimming colors, he doesn’t let go of any chance to nettle the history. This time, the US Open Swimming Championship suited Cody Miller in that way. In the so far tournament, Cody Miller participated in his trademark 200m breaststroke. However, both the prelims and final saw two conflicting pictures. 

Cody Miller retreats to Matt Falcon in the US Open Swimming Championship  

As the event-favorite, Cody Miller couldn’t create much impact in the 200m breaststroke in the US Open Swimming Championship 2023. In the final, he had to accept defeat from Matt Falcon by a difference of 0.35 seconds. Rather, the third-positioned Josh Matheny went behind the mentioned duo by a hefty distance. In the tweet of USA Swimming News, the final timings of the swimmers were curated. 

The former world champion, Cody Miller, started the event with a majestic speed. But he couldn’t match it with the 21-year-old Matt Fallon who had to register almost his career best to defeat the ilk of Cody Miller. The Penn Swimmer knew already that to earn the title, he had to overcome Cody Miller’s threat only. After the prelims of the event in the 2023 US Open Swimming Championship, his guess strengthened. 

Cody Miller recorded one of his best in the 200m breaststroke prelims 

At the onset of the Phillips 66 National Championships this year, Cody Miller told IndyStar about his plan for the season. The 2016 Olympic medalist claimed, “My whole goal this summer was (to) break a minute again.” He outpoured this statement after recording a 59.85 run in the 100-meter breaststroke in the meet. That showed the motivation of the swimming sensation even after reaching 31 years of age. His prelims record in the 200m breaststroke in the 2023 US Open Swimming Championship reminded that statement once again. 

Read more: Despite winning 28 medals, Michael Phelps once claimed he hasn’t been ‘100 percent’ in any of the Olympics

Cody Miller’s cocking of 2:09.80 remained at the peak of the USA swimmers in the event. Moreover, that timing was at the fifth position in his fastest outings’ list and best since 2019. However, in the final, Cody had to accept the defeat of a budding swimming talent, Matt Fallon. But Cody’s fans might not want to see that as the swimming sensation’s end before the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Watch this story: Swimming Legend’s Halloween Edition: How Michael Phelps’ Childhood Friend Lightened Up His Family’s Spooky Celebration