2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
- Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
- La Défense Arena — Paris, France
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Full Swimming Schedule
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Pick ’em Contest
- How To Watch
- Entry Lists
- Live Results
- Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
- Finals Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
There was a glaring absence in the men’s 200 backstroke as 100 backstroke silver medalist Xu Jiayu no-showed his prelims heat. The Chinese swimmer was originally slated to swim in heat 2, lane 5 as the #6 seed with an entry time of 1:55.37.
Earlier in the meet, Xu dropped a time of 52.32 to win a silver medal in the 100 backstroke, just .07 ahead of American Ryan Murphy (52.37). Italian Thomas Ceccon won the event with a 52.00. The performance for Xu marked his second Olympic silver medal in the event as he had previously finished second to Murphy at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Xu’s absence is a glaring one for the Chinese team. With doping controversy following the team, they have greatly underperformed at this competition, especially when considering the results of the 2021 Olympic Games and 2023 World Championships. Xu’s 100 backstroke had been one of the best performances for the team through day 4 of racing.
It is important to note that Xu was not one of the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested postitve for the banned substance TMZ prior to the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Despite that, Xu did not shy away from speaking to the media about the topic following his 100 backstroke performance. In a post-race interview, Xu told Chinese media that the Chinese swimmers had always been doubted and had to “speak with results” instead.
Couldn’t find clean urine in time.
So the #1 qualifier and the #6 seed are now out, in an already comparatively slow event, in a terribly slow pool.
I have a feeling this might be a Men’s 100BR-level event
Only like 8 people were getting eliminated per event this morning I would not read into the times at all
Covid/other illness most likely. Positive drug test would be huge news but unlikely.
Everyone’s getting sick
Fair play to Xu winning Olympic silver 8 years apart although he’s been fairly inconsistent for quite sometime after 2019 until last year, he came ready to go here gotta give that to him. Not sure what happened with the 2 back but maybe he doesn’t want to take any chances for the medley relays for China.
Rumor is that he’s a bit sick and he’s also hinted at that during interviews. Probably wants to medal in the medley relays and don’t want to take any chances.
The NYT is on it. Awaiting results in 2yrs.
He wants to concentrate more on mixed and medley relays which China is the favourite for gold medal.
China is no longer the favorite in anything.
Probably saving energy for mixed medley relay where China is favoured to win