Evgeny Rylov Lowers Own European, Russian 200 Back Records In 1:53.23

2021 RUSSIAN NATIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Evgeny Rylov rocketed to a new European and Russian Record in the men’s 200 backstroke final on the penultimate day of the 2021 Russian Olympic Trials, clocking a time of 1:53.23.

The reigning two-time world champion in the event, Rylov’s swim breaks his previous Continental and European Record of 1:53.36 set at the 2018 European Championships, and also registers as the seventh-fastest swim in history.

All-Time Performances, Men’s 200 Back (LCM)

  1. Aaron Peirsol (USA), 1:51.92 – 2009
  2. Ryosuke Irie (JPN), 1:52.51 – 2009
  3. Ryosuke Irie (JPN), 1:52.86 – 2009
  4. Ryan Lochte (USA), 1:52.96 – 2011
  5. Aaron Peirsol (USA), 1:53.08 – 2009
  6. Mitch Larkin (AUS), 1:53.17 – 2015
  7. Evgeny Rylov (RUS), 1:53.23 – 2021
  8. Ryosuke Irie (JPN), 1:53.26 – 2014
  9. Mitch Larkin (AUS), 1:53.34  – 2015
  10. Evgeny Rylov (RUS), 1:53.36 – 2018

Rylov maintains his spot as the fifth-fastest swimmer ever, but overtakes Ryosuke Irie to become the third-fastest ever in a textile suit.

All-Time Performers, Men’s 200 Back (LCM)

  1. Aaron Peirsol (USA), 1:51.92 – 2009
  2. Ryosuke Irie (JPN), 1:52.51 – 2009
  3. Ryan Lochte (USA), 1:52.96 – 2011
  4. Mitch Larkin (USA), 1:53.17 – 2015
  5. Evgeny Rylov (RUS), 1:53.23 – 2021

Split Comparison

Compared to his 2018 record, Rylov wasn’t quite as aggressive on the front-half here, but closed much better, specifically on the third 50.

Rylov, 2018 Euros Rylov, 2021 Trials
26.89 27.12
54.78 (27.89) 55.38 (28.26)
1:24.12 (29.34) 1:24.10 (28.72)
1:53.36 (29.24) 1:53.23 (29.13)

Rylov has now been sub-1:54 on seven different occasions, with the first time coming at the 2016 Olympics where he won the bronze medal.

  • 1:53.97, 2016 Olympic Games
  • 1:53.81, 2017 Russian Championships
  • 1:53.61, 2017 World Championships
  • 1:53.71, 2018 Russian Championships
  • 1:53.36, 2018 European Championships
  • 1:53.40, 2019 World Championships
  • 1:53.23, 2021 Russian Olympic Trials

In the world this season, the Russian rockets to the top spot by over two seconds, with China’s Xu Jiayu the next-fastest at 1:55.26.

Earlier in the meet, Rylov won the 100 back in a time of 52.12, in what is believed to be an official Russian Record, though it falls shy of his 51.97 lead-off from the mixed medley relay in 2019.

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hzmusicswim
2 years ago

Who said it a few days ago that Rylov wouldn’t medal in tokyo….

MugSeven
2 years ago

It looked so easy, too

#MFan
2 years ago

Amazing that Mitch Larkin swam for both AUS and USA! And in the same year!

Breezeway
2 years ago

sharpie Rylov for the Olympic gold in 200 Back. no debate

TINY HANDS
Reply to  Breezeway
2 years ago

He’s the favorite at this point for sure, but anything can happen when it’s racing time. Murphy’s PB is only a couple tenths away and we don’t know what kind of form he’ll be in this summer.

Justhereforfun
2 years ago

Wow I didn’t know Irie has swum a 1:53.2 textile before

Rafael
Reply to  Justhereforfun
2 years ago

2014 Asian Games

Mr Piano
2 years ago

Lochte’s textile 200 Back (which imo is the best 200 back of all time), is in danger

Njones
Reply to  Mr Piano
2 years ago

Man, 2011 Lochte is under appreciated I think: post shiny suits and he is dropping-
152 200 back
144 200 free
154.00 200 im world record
Plus his 4im and relay splits.
Those 200s might be the best 3 200s of anyone ever. Of course the best “4” 200s would be 2007 Phelps – im, fly, free and back…;)

Philip Johnson
Reply to  Njones
2 years ago

Probably one of the best individual performances of all-time. The best for sure for Lochte

Khachaturian
2 years ago

1:52 incoming

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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