It was 16 years ago to the day that we saw a titanic battle in the men’s 200 backstroke on the final night of racing at the 2009 U.S. National Championships, making it an appropriate event to look back on in this week’s Fluidra Race Video of the Week.
The race featured reigning Olympic champion, defending world champion and world record holder Ryan Lochte, former Olympic champion (2004), world champion (2001, 2003, 2005) and world record holder, Aaron Peirsol, and Tyler Clary, who had been on fire all meet, earning surprise World Championship berths in the 200 fly and 400 IM, giving Michael Phelps a scare in the 200 fly and Lochte a good run for his money in the 400 IM.
After going on an undefeated run in the event for some time, Peirsol saw Lochte take his world title and world record in 2007, and then lost the Olympic title to his American rival the following summer in Beijing.
Peirsol managed to respond with a big swim on the final night in Indianapolis, assuming the lead from Lochte on the second 50 and pulling away on the back half, putting up a time of 1:53.08 to shatter the official world record of 1:53.94 set by Lochte in the 2008 Olympic final.
Japan’s Ryosuke Irie had been faster at a Duel in the Pool style meet between the Japanese team and Australia in Canberra in May 2009, clocking 1:52.86, but FINA did not recognize the performance due to him wearing an unapproved suit.
Lochte clocked 1:54.21 to place 2nd behind Peirsol, edging out Clary (1:54.53) and Nick Thoman (1:54.83) to earn the second World Championship spot for the Americans.
RACE VIDEO
Courtesy of Universal Sports on YouTube
Just under three weeks later at the 2009 World Championships in Rome, Peirsol re-lowered the world record in a time of 1:51.92, going under Irie’s unratified time to win the gold medal, while Irie claimed silver with the #2 swim of all-time in 1:52.51. Lochte snagged bronze in 1:53.82.
That performance from Peirsol was a redemption swim of sorts, as, after breaking the world record in the 100 back (51.94) at U.S. Nationals, he failed to make the final in the event at Worlds, placing 9th in the semis in 53.22.
His world record of 1:51.92 in the 200 back still stands to this day, making it one of four men’s individual LCM world records still on the books from 2009 (along with Cesar Cielo’s 50 free, Paul Biedermann’s 200 free, and Zhang Lin’s 800 free).
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