The above video was taken by former North Carolina All-American Steven Cebertowicz. Follow Steven on Twitter at @Cebertowicz.
There are many records for which USA Swimming, the official body of record for swimming in this country, doesn’t keep official records. Still, someone is still the fastest ever in these races, and now Stanford volunteer assistant Eugene Godsoe is the fastest American ever in the 50 yard backstroke.
On the final night of the 2012 Pro-Am meet in Oklahoma City, Godsoe swam a 20.78 that breaks an unofficial American Record in the event. The previous fastest Americans in this race was Ryan Lochte from the 2005 SEC Championships in 20.92 and Auburn swimmer Jared White, who split a 20.88 at the 2009 NCAA Championships in prelims.
The only man who has swum a faster 50 backstroke is Venezuelan Albert Subirats, who went a 20.73 at the 2008 NCAA Championships while representing Arizona.
Out of all of the 50 yard events, this is the most commonly raced at a senior level, given that relay leadoffs for the 200 yard medley relay count as an individual 50 yard swim.
Godsoe swam a 44.75 in the 100 backstroke on Saturday that almost broke Matt Grevers’ official American Record of 44.55.
For what it’s worth, Subirats’ best is likely to go down in the coming years, as Bolles swimmer Ryan Murphy has been a 21.09 at only 17-years old.
The event got off to an inauspicious start when not a single swimmer showed up for the C-Final of this 50 backstroke: quite peculiar indeed.
I believe at the 1997 Div 1 NCAAs on UT’s 4 x 50 medley relay, Neil Walker lead off in 20.77 that same year he broke the AR in the 100 BK in 44.92 and his finger, scratching him from the 200 BK making all of us wonderf how fast he could have gone.
This swim, plus five bucks, could get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
Same for any scy records, unless you’re Phelps or Lochte. They might get a free coffee.
Previous fastest American was Jared White 20.88 prelims 200 medley relay – 2009 ncaa champs.
I’m about 99% that Subirats went 20.53 leading off his relay his junior year (the year he was the fastest at NCAAs). That relay actually lost to Auburn too.
Listen to the audio in this video. You can hear the guy say 20.5!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asi9ecR6FWs
Isn’t it sort of silly that USA Swimming doesn’t keep official records for the stroke 50s? If they are going to keep records for the 50 free they should keep them for the other three strokes as well, especially when you consider FINA conducts these events at World Championships.
well he was for sure 20.73 in ’08
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/c-swim/auto_pdf/ncaa-m-complete.pdf
Subirats went a 20.47 at some point. I’m 85% sure haha
At this meet the A final goes first, so the C final not showing up didnt happen until well after. So it got off to a mighty fine start
why didn’t anyone show up for C final? I thought this was an elite level meet?
Lots of school age kids, lots of people leave last day