Men’s 100 Backstroke as reported by SwimSwam’s Braden Keith
Ryan Murphy always swims very well when racing against fellow Floridian Ryan Lochte. That held true again in this meet, where he was a 54.92.
He and Australian Bobby Hurley were nearly dead-even throughout this race, and it’s impressive with how often Hurley has been racing that Murphy still managed to get his fingertips to the wall first.
Lochte, meanwhile, took 3rd in 55.42, followed by another redshirted West Virginian Bryce Bohman in 55.58. That time, combined with his prelims swim, knocked a full second off of his best time from last year’s Olympic Trials.
Russian Arkady Vyatchanin won the B-Final in 56.57.
From next year this guy will own backstroke in the world. And during a long period. Perhaps like the Aaron Peirsol era. We’ll see.
No pressure. 😉
If he is a champion, and I think he is, he doesn’t feel the pressure. He wants to continue the legacy of great American backstrokers.
And if he feels it, it’s a good pressure.
I think there are some new guys ( 13-14 years old.. ) who on 2015 2016 may also show up big time and put up a battle.. a battle is good for the sport itself.. If there is someone pushing you hard, more WR may be crushed..