2023 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT
- April 12-15, 2023
- FMC Aquatic Center, Westmont, Illinois
- Long Course Meters (50 meters)
- Event Central
- Pre-Scratch timeline
- Psych Sheets
- Live Stream
- Live Results
- Day 1 Finals Live Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
American swimmer Ryan Murphy became just the third man in history to go under 52 seconds in both the 100 backstroke and 100 fly on Thursday evening in Westmont, Illinois.
Racing in the B Final, Murphy swam 51.96, which was the third-best time among the field (behind only Shaine Casas‘ 51.05 and Eric Friese’s 51.72). Combined with his 51.85 former World Record in the 100 backstroke, he has now been under the 52 second barrier in both races.
The limiting factor here, of course, is the 100 backstroke. Only six men in history have been under 52 seconds in that event – so another way to look at this is that half of those swimmers have also been under 52 seconds in the 100 fly, though none have broken 51 seconds, which is maybe closer to the 100 backstroke equivalent in the race.
| Swimmer | Country | 100 Back Time | 100 Fly Time |
| Thomas Ceccon | Italy | 51.60 | 51.38 |
| Ryan Murphy | USA | 51.85 | 51.96 |
| Xu Jiayu | China | 51.86 | ??? |
| Aaron Peirsol | USA | 51.94 | 51.30 |
| Evgeny Rylov | Russia | 51.97 | 57.52 |
| Hunter Armstrong | USA | 51.98 | 59.61 |
We couldn’t find a long course 100 fly time for Xu Jiayu, but we’re reasonably certain it wasn’t under 52 seconds.
That swim for Murphy ranks him 9th among Americans since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and 3rd this season behind Shaine Casas (50.80) and Michael Andrew (51.80). Might Murphy, who has six Olympic medals and 27 World Championship medals all in backstroke races, be pursuing this 100 fly at a serious level?
“The 100 fly is a fun event for me,” Murphy told SwimSwam after his race on Thursday. “The large majority of my training is focused on the 200 back, and I mix in fly when my backstroke is tired.
“I would have swum the 100 fly at the 2021 Olympic Trials if it hadn’t conflicted with the 200 back. With the expanded Olympic program, they don’t conflict anymore, but I haven’t finalized my Trials schedule yet.”
Under the previous 8 day schedule, the 100 fly semi-final came at the end of the session where the 200 backstroke was the second event. With the expansion of the Olympics, and thereby the Olympic Trials, to 9 days of swimming, the 200 backstroke final wraps up on Thursday (day 6) and the 100 butterfly prelims start on Friday (day 7).
With his primary racing done, the 100 fly would essentially be a freebie flyer event for Murphy at Trials.
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Surprising that NEITHER Lochte nor Phelps is on this list.
WITHOUT A DOUBT my favorite TEAM USA men’s swimmer – so consistent, so humble, so positive for the sport, and so talented over the long haul!
I know round numbers and everything, but I would argue the equivalent of going sub 52 in back is the same as 50.4 in fly.
I agree, the headline goes something more like “one of the best backstrokers ever is also pretty solid at 100 fly”
I want to see Hunter swim that
Hunter Armstrong we don’t deserve you
Let’s go Murph
Had no idea Peirsol was that fast in the 100 fly… what a legend
Supersuit helped
True. But with the exception of brst he was elite across the board. He would’ve stood a solid chance if making the 4×2 squad if he’d gone for it.
He was on the relay at Worlds once. I think it was 2003.
Pierson only used leg suits for his back. I am unaware of any evidence they made much of a difference. He was great by anymeasure
It’s even more impressive since he was pretty much average underwater, even for his time. Grevers had better underwaters, Murphy has way better underwaters, and he was typically midpack on his backstroke underwaters in his swims. Absolute animal on the surface and (without me doing any actual analysis besides casually watching race videos) probably the fastest US surface swimming backstroker of all time. It’s a real credit to his abilities that his WR is still around even with this generation’s typically much better underwaters.
He’s one of the fun ones to think about what he could’ve done if the event lineups were different at Worlds/Olympics.
I mean….he swam at Texas.
Armstrong needs to step up!