Watch Ricky Berens’ American Record-Breaking 200 Yard Free

From Our Original Report on Ricky Berens’ American Record:

Ricky Berens almost retired after the 2012 Summer Olympics. He changed his mind, and for his troubles he’s been rewarded with a new American Record in the 200 yard freestyle.

The swim came on the first night of the 2013 American Short Course Championships (the meet is not a USA Swimming Sanctioned “national championship,” though is certainly an official USA Swimming meet, and is run by Longhorn Aquatics in Austin. He went to college at the University of Texas, where this meet is being hosted, and has now returned as a volunteer assistant.

Berens, going after the record on the 200 yard split of his 500, swam a 1:31.31 to break the old mark held by his former teammate Dave Walters at 1:31.72 from the 2009 NCAA Championships.

The all-time U.S. Open mark (swum by a swimmer of any nationality on US soil) still belongs to Great Britain’s Simon Burnett in 1:31.20 from 2006 (before the suit era).

Berens was only 9th in the prelims of this race in 4:29.05, but a medical scratch put him into the A-Final where he had his record-breaking performance.

For the split to be official, Berens had to finish the 500 free legally, which he did to officially transcribe it onto the books. He finished the 500, basically cooling down, in a 5:05.36, though that won’t be the number that is remembered by fans.

Full, live meet results available here.

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11 years ago

Sick swim…love it…wish the camera work was better…but we got to see it…it looks like he is just crushing the field with a wonderful stroke. Nice work…

Michael
11 years ago

Simon Burnett was wearing a high neck body suit in 2006

Alec
Reply to  Michael
11 years ago

It was a textile bodysuit that Burnett wore. Big difference between an FS Pro and the suits of 08-09

coacherik
Reply to  Alec
11 years ago

Yes, but there was still a great deal more to the suit than what Berens was wearing here.. I hopped into a 4×50 relay situation without training at all leading up to the Austin Grand Prix in 2009. Perfect relay exchange and went 20.5, my best flat start ever was 21.2 in 2000, freshman year, in college. I was wearing a FS Pro bodysuit for the relay and aquablade jammer in 2000.

Fantastic swim, just sick efficiency and low turnover, my jaw dropped at how he swam this.

11 years ago

It’s amazing how flippin’ smooth he looks

PsychoDad
11 years ago

I think Ricky Berens is a volunteer assistant with the UT program, not Longhorn Aquatics. Dave Walters, also mentioned here, is now assistant coach with the Longhorn Aquatics.

Ben
11 years ago

how does he shoot through the water like that!?

ChestRockwell
11 years ago

Nine strokes a lap. Nine.

Bjorne
11 years ago

Andrew Seliskar went a 53.3 100 breast at the PVS senior champs in prelims. New NAG

kcswimjk
11 years ago

Berens’ freestyle is just beautiful to watch.

SeahawkSwammer
Reply to  kcswimjk
11 years ago

It really is. His slow turnover rate is just incredible.

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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