Captured by D’Artagnan Dias.
Produced by Coleman Hodges.
Reported by Mitch Bowmile.
MEN’S 200M BACKSTROKE FINAL
Start List: click here
Top Seed: 1:54.45 – Evgeny Rylov – Russia
World Record: 1:51.92 (2009) – Aaron Peirsol – USA
JR World Record: 1:56.79 – Li Guangyuan – China
Olympic Record: 1:53.41 (2012) – Tyler Clary – USA
2012 Olympic Champion: 1:53.41 – Tyler Clary – USA
Ryan Murphy of the United States managed to hold on with a strong finish to sweep the backstroke and continue a sixth straight Olympic title in the event for an American man. Murphy was a 1:53.62 at the wall, beating his own best time to take down the defending world champion Mitch Larkin of Australia.
Larkin finished just over three-tenths of a second behind Murphy with a time of 1:53.96, fading towards the end as Murphy established himself as the clear leader heading into the wall.
Behind both Murphy and Larkin was Evgeny Rylov of Russia who was the top seed after both the prelims and semifinals but couldn’t hold on to the streak, instead settling for the bronze in a time of 1:53.97.
The top three were well ahead of everyone else as Xu Jiayu of China finished fourth in 1:55.16, over a second behind Rylov of Russia. Jacob Pebley of the United States was fifth in 1:55.52, ahead of world junior record holder Li Guanyuan of China. Guanyuan was a 1:55.89 for sixth overall.
Ryosuke Irie of Japan touched eighth with a time of 1:56.36.
1. Ryan Murphy – USA – 1:53.62
You got the two of the top swimmers for their reparative countries up there and the questions revolve around Phelps, Lochte, Campbell sister, and Cam….
Respective countries*
Murphy mentions expanding his event repertoire. I am assuming he means the 100 freestyle and trying to get on that 4×100 free relay. That’s definitely the most likely case.
But will we finally get to see his long course 200 IM this coming year? He finally figured how to swim it short course this year. With 1:40.2 I could see him going 1:57 mid area (if tapered for it- which is unlikely if it continues to conflict with the 200 backstroke). And if he goes 1:57 that’s a good starting point to get down to the 1:55 zone. Now that Phelps is actually gone and Lochte taking a break/looks vulnerable, who will take up the US 200 IM? Dwyer?… Read more »
I honestly dont think he will ever swim IM long course… Besides the fact that it is in the same session as the 200 back, his breaststroke is not good and he only managed a decent split from pullouts. Agree with everything else though