Ryan Murphy Rocks 48.50 Personal Best, Championship Record In 100 Back

2022 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

American Olympian Ryan Murphy put up a statement-making swim tonight at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre.

While competing in the men’s 100m backstroke final, 27-year-old Murphy crushed a time of 48.50 for gold, beating the next-closest swimmer by over half a second. Italy’s Lorenzo Mora was next to the wall in 49.04 for silver while host nation swimmer Isaac Cooper rounded out the top 3 in 49.52 for bronze.

Murphy’s 48.50 not only topped the podium, however, but the time also overtook the previous Championship Record. That mark stood at the 48.95 Russian Stanislav Donetc put on the books over a decade ago in 2010.

Opening in 23.40 and bringing it home in 25.10, Murphy’s performance also came within .17 of the World Record in this men’s 1back event. That remains at the 48.33 fellow American Coleman Stewart registered in August of 2021; however, Murphy now checks in as the 2nd fastest man in history.

Entering this competition, former Cal Bear Murphy’s personal best rested at the 49.23 he produced at the 2018 FINA Short Course Championships. That means his outing here hacked well over half a second from the storied backstroker’s career-quickest to rocket up the all-time rankings from his prior slot of #13.

All-Time Men’s SCM 100 Backstroke Performers

  1. Coleman Stewart (USA), 48.33 2021
  2. Ryan Murphy (USA), 48.50 2022
  3. Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 48.58 2020
  4. Shaine Casas (USA), 48.84 2022
  5. Evgeny Rylov (RUS), 48.88 2020

He joins the exclusive sub-49 second club, adding his name to fellow Americans Casas (48.84), Matt Grevers (48.92) and Nick Thoman (48.94) who have also achieved the accomplishment.

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THEO
1 year ago

He’s got the combo of the best backstroke start in the field, but more endurance than pure 50/100 swimmers. Reminds me of dressel in fly that way.

Tomek
1 year ago

Murphy is not done quite yet

Robbie
1 year ago

So deserving of the gold—great work ethic, leadership and team spirit.

PFA
1 year ago

I still think he has a shot to break the world record potentially leading off the 4 medley relay I think he’s going to be close but great swim for Murphy second fastest time in history

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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