Hunter Armstrong Obliterates American Record With 24.01 50 Back, #2 In History

2022 U.S. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS

It was an absolutely scorching end to the preliminary session on Thursday morning in Greensboro, asย Hunter Armstrong andย Justin Ress both annihilated the existing American Record in the men’s 50 backstroke.

Armstrong blasted his way to a time of 24.01, shatteringย Ryan Murphy‘s American Record by over two-tenths of a second to become the second-fastest swimmer in history.

Murphy set the previous mark of 24.24 at the 2018 U.S. National Championships in Irvine, the last time U.S. swimmers raced the stroke 50s with selection on the line. That swim also marked the previous U.S. Open Record.

One heat later, Ress answered the bell, soaring to a final time of 24.05 to narrowly miss Armstrong’s mark and also getting well under the previous American Record. At that same Nationals meet four years ago, Ress set his previous best of 24.31, which ranked him as the second-fastest American and 10th-fastest swimmer ever coming into the event.

Now, Armstrong shoots up to second all-time, trailing Russia’sย Kliment Kolesnikov (23.80), and Ress now sits fourth, also back of Great Britain’sย Liam Tancock, who clocked what was long the world record of 24.40 in a super-suit at the 2009 World Championships.

All-Time Performers, Men’s 50 Backstroke (LCM)

  1. Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 23.80 โ€“ 2021 European Championships
  2. Hunter Armstrong (USA), 24.01 โ€“ 2022 U.S. Trials
  3. Liam Tancock (GBR), 24.04 โ€“ 2009 World Championships
  4. Justin Ress (USA), 24.05 โ€“ 2022 U.S. Trials
  5. Camille Lacourt (FRA), 24.07 โ€“ 2010 European Championships
  6. Robert Glinta (ROU), 24.12 โ€“ 2018 European Championships
  7. Bobby Hurley (AUS), 24.13 โ€“ 2013 FINA World Cup – Dubai
  8. Mark Nikolaev (RUS), 24.23 โ€“ 2019 Russian National Championships
  9. Junya Koga (JPN) / Ryan Murphy (USA), 24.24 โ€“ 2009 World Championships / 2018 U.S. Nationals

Kolesnikov, who first broke the world record in 2018 in a time of 24.00, has been sub-24 on four separate occasions, doing so just yesterday at the (unsanctioned) Russian Championships in Kazan in 23.93.

Factoring in that swim, Armstrong’s performance is the fifth-fastest of all-time, while Ress’ is seventh.

All-Time Performances, Men’s 50 Backstroke (LCM)

  1. Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 23.80 โ€“ 2021 European Championships
  2. Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), / Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 23.93 โ€“ 2021 European Championships / 2022 Russian Championships
  3. Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 24.00 โ€“ 2018 European Championships
  4. Hunter Armstrong (USA), 24.01 โ€“ 2022 U.S. Trials
  5. Liam Tancock (GBR), 24.04 โ€“ 2009 World Championships
  6. Justin Ress (USA), 24.05 โ€“ 2022 U.S. Trials
  7. Camille Lacourt (FRA), 24.07 โ€“ 2010 European Championships
  8. Liam Tancock (GBR) / Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 24.08 โ€“ 2009 World Championships / 2021 Russian Championships

Armstrong, who qualified for the U.S. Olympic team last summer in the 100 back and has likely already locked in a Worlds spot after tying for fourth in the men’s 100 freestyle, set his previous 50 back best time of 25.45 in May of 2021.

The 21-year-old Ohio State Buckeye was relatively off form at the NCAA Championships last month, but showed signs he was going to be good in Greensboro when he posted on social media that he clocked 52.8 in a 100 back during practice in the lead-up to the meet.

Shaine Casas qualified third for the final behind Armstrong and Ress, clocking 24.45, while Murphy (24.63),ย Adam Chaney (24.78) andย Jack Aikins (24.81) were also sub-25.

Casas, Chaney and Aikins all set massive new best times and climb up the all-time U.S. rankings. Casas leads the trio, moving into a tie for sixth withย Tom Shields.

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Meow
1 year ago

You guys should go update the prelims recap that says the world record is 24.00 and that Armstrong was only .01 off.

Wondering Willie
1 year ago

Are we going to ignore the fact that he should have been DQ’ed for flinching on his start?

Jeff
1 year ago

Have to compliment the sprint coaches at Ohio State as the athletes seem to be putting together a really good showing coming off of another successful B1G and NCAA performance (both sides Top 10). Many swim enthusiasts may have doubted whether or not Hunter would be able to ‘back up’ his Trials performance, but he certainly did so the other day in the freestyle event (which shows his versatility) and seemingly has given him the additional edge to capture an American record here. I look forward to seeing him continue to mature on the big stage!

Matt Bowe has really given life to the OSU sprint program, and this seems to be rubbing off on Hunter’s teammates with the likes… Read more ยป

Klorn8d
Reply to  Jeff
1 year ago

Matt Bowe is a great coach, surprised he hasnโ€™t gotten as much attention for head coaching gigs

Admin
Reply to  Klorn8d
1 year ago

He was allegedly a front-runner for Pitt and withdrew his name from consideration.

Armstrong 100 back gold in Fukuoka
1 year ago

๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

SwimCoach
1 year ago

Is Hunter Armstrong now officially the swimming communities new man crush?

PFA
1 year ago

Hot take the magician wins both backstrokes pulling a rabbit out of his hat and smashing both world records.

Old Bruin
1 year ago

Surprised he didn’t come from the Sandpipers, given all the magicians in Vegas.

Dylan
1 year ago

Hey king you dropped this: ๐Ÿ‘‘

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 โ€ฆ

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