Both 2012 100m Backstroke Olympic Champs Will Not Defend Their Titles

2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

A long four years after their success at the 2012 London Olympic Games, both the reigning men’s and women’s 100m backstroke Olympic champions will not get the opportunity to defend their titles this summer in Rio.

After just squeezing into the final by a few hundredths of a second, Missy Franklin had her work cut out for her if she wanted to earn her spot on the United States’ Olympic roster. Swimming in an outside lane, Franklin had to take down top seed Olivia Smoliga and second seed Kathleen Baker in order to qualify for the games.

Franklin turned in eighth, and ultimately didn’t have the speed to finish within the top two, touching in seventh place with a time of 1:00.24.

Following Franklin’s disappointment, Matt Grevers was in the mix to make the team in the men’s 100m backstroke against Cal stud Ryan Murphy and David Plummer. Both Murphy and Plummer went out under world record pace at the 50 with Grevers hot on their trail.

On the final 50, Grevers tried to make a charge but ultimately both Murphy and Plummer were out of reach. Grevers finished third in 52.76 just half-a-second away from qualifying for the Rio Games.

Both Franklin and Grevers have been staple international competitors for the United States in this event since they won gold in London.

They both backed up their Olympic golds with a world championship gold in the 100m backstroke at the 2013 World Championships. One year later at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships Grevers picked up a silver, Franklin a bronze. At the 2015 world championships, Grevers picked up a bronze and Franklin finished fifth.

With the two star swimmers out of the 100m backstroke, it opens things up significantly on the international scene.

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Steve Nolan
8 years ago

US’s male silver medalist ain’t gonna swim there, either. (But that was an easier pre-meet prediction.)

2012 was 4 years ago
8 years ago

Honestly, anyone who thought Missy was even going to qualify in the women’s 100 back, let alone medal in Rio, was delusional. Outside of college SCY races, which while fun to watch mean nothing, she has been terrible since 2013 and has showed no signs of getting close to a sub 59 100 back, and was struggling for sub 1:00.

Gary P
8 years ago

Grevers swims a time that would have been good enough for gold in London, and doesn’t even make the team. That’s gotta be tough to swallow. He was a little off his best, but he still looks pretty strong. I think he still has enough speed left in his aging body to qualify for the 4×100 free relay.

Wirotomo
Reply to  Gary P
8 years ago

If you mean by “London” is 2012 Olympics, then NO. Grevers won the gold medal with 52.16.
52.76 is good for silver medal.

But if “London” is 2016 Euro Champs, then YES. Lacourt won the gold medal with 53.79.

Gary P
Reply to  Wirotomo
8 years ago

Look at the silver medal time at the London Olympics. Grevers was still faster than that in the finals last night. ????

Gary P
Reply to  Gary P
8 years ago

I was assuming Grevers wouldn’t have to beat himself, just the rest of the field. Had he swum a 52.76 at the London Olympic finals, he still would have won the gold.

Penguin
8 years ago

Can someone please explain to me Plummer’s backstroke kick? It confuses me immensely. Thank you.

Swammer
8 years ago

Both 100 Back Olympic champs from 2008 didn’t compete in that event in 2012. Team USA seemed to do okay. I’m not too worried about it this time either 😉

However, Emily Seebohm has been looking stellar. I hope Olivia Smoliga can challenger her!

Klorn8d
8 years ago

I’m a huge fan of Olivia smoliga. She’s a great swimmer and is fun to watch. But she carries herself so well. She has that perky and bubbly personality but she doesn’t come off as fake and annoying like missy can. She’s bubbly but she says things with substance. She may describe something as “awesome” like missy would but then she’ll explain it and give you insight into her thoughts instead of just saying everything is awesome and great.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Klorn8d
8 years ago

i have seen that too from Smoliga – she has totally deserved that win and its something special to see her on that Us Olympic team for the first time ….

Steve Nolan
8 years ago

I knew the women’s 100 back was gonna make me sad, but the men’s did, too.

🙁

tusup4PRES
8 years ago

Interesting observation
In 2 separate video interviews on SwimSwam (backstrokers), the JUMBOTRON has been cited as a means of;
seeing themselves vs the WR line or
seeing where their competitors were.

It would be an interesting scenario if perhaps someone who didn’t have an equal view of this pacing mechanism (eg outside lane), cited this an opportunity to dispute the selection process.

FINA Rules SW 10.16
“No pace-making shall be permitted, nor may any device be used or plan adopted which has that effect
http://www.fina.org/content/swimming-rules

Rishabh
Reply to  tusup4PRES
8 years ago

Lolol phelps has said several times that he “sneaks” at the board in events.. not a big deal

About Mitch Bowmile

Mitch Bowmile

Mitch worked for 5-years with SwimSwam news as a web producer focusing on both Canadian and international content. He coached for Toronto Swim Club for four seasons as a senior coach focusing on the development of young swimmers. Mitch is an NCCP level 2 certified coach in Canada and an ASCA Level …

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