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MEN’S 200M BACKSTROKE – FINALS
2013 World Champion: Ryan Lochte, USA – 1:53.79
World Record: 1:51.92 –Aaron Peirsol, USA – 2009
Championship Record: 1:51.92 –Aaron Peirsol, USA – 2009
GOLD: Mitchell Larkin, AUS – 1:53.58
SILVER: Radoslaw Kawecki, POL – 1:54.55
BRONZE: Evgeny Rylov, RUS – 1:54.60
Mitchell Larkin is on top of the podium once again after winning the 100 backstroke earlier in the week. This is Australia’s second consecutive gold medal after watching Bronte Campbell win the women’s 100 free. Larkin broke the Oceanian record with his winning time of 1:53.58.
Radoslaw Kawecki (POL) finished second at 1:54.55, just edging out the bronze medalist, Evgeny Rylov of Russia, at 1:54.60.
Ryosuke Irie and Ryan Murphy finished fourth and fifth at 1:54.81 and 1:55.00, respectively. Xu Jiayu also finished in the 1:55 range with a sixth place time of 1:55.20.
Tyler Clary finished seventh ahead of Li Guangyuan at 1:56.26, but Li’s swim was historic despite finishing in eighth. Li broke the Jr World Record with his time of 1:56.79.