Could the two Frenchmen, Camille Lacourt and Jeremy Stravius keep the 100 backstroke Olympic and World champion American Matt Grevers at bay in the men’s 50 backstroke?
Lacourt yes, Stravius sort of.
Lacourt won the men’s 50 backstroke in a time of 24.42. After finishing second in the 50 and winning the 100 backstroke, tying with Stavius, Lacourt was shut out of the medals at the Olympics finishing fourth in the 100 meter distance.
Tying for a medal at the world championships seems to becoming a habit for Stravius, who tied with Grevers for the silver in a time of 24.54.
Grevers time was a lifetime best improving on his previous best of 24.72 in 2010. This is first time that Grevers has medaled in the event at a major international competition.
Aschwin Wildeboer Faber of Spain who is much more of a 50 specialist than the three men who finished ahead of him posted a season’t best time of 24.58.
China’s Sun Xiaolei finished fifth in a time of 24.76, Daniel Orzechowski of Brazil finished sixth in a time of 24.87, Guy Marcos Barnea of Israel finished seventh in a time of 25.14 while his teammate Jonatan Josef Kopelev finished eighth in a time of 25.19.