Isaac Cooper Breaks 2009-Era World Cup Record in the 50 Backstroke in Prelims

2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup -Shanghai

Australian swimmer Isaac Cooper broke the Swimming World Cup Record in the 50 meter backstroke on Saturday morning in Shanghai, swimming 22.58 in the heats of the event.

The old record of 22.61 was set by American Peter Marshall in Singapore during the 2009 series almost 15 years ago as part of the record-bonanza that was the 2009 supersuited World Cup Series. At the time, that swim was the World Record as well: the third time Marshall broke that record in five weeks.

His World Record stood until 2014 when France’s Florent Manaudou swam 22.22. The current record belongs to Russian Kliment Kolesnikov, who swam 22.11 in 2022.

There are now only 10 records left from the 2009 World Cup series.

Marshall was a 50 backstroke specialist, especially in short course meters, though he did also break the short course World Record in the 100 back three times – including in 2004, before the supersuit era.

Cooper envisions himself as a 50 meter specialist as well. In fact, at the pre-Olympic, under-attended, 2024 World Championships, Cooper swam the 50 free (5th), 50 back (gold), and 50 fly (4th) – the latter two of which are not on the Olympic schedule.

Training less than 10,000 meters a week, Cooper would struggle in the 100 meter distance later in the year. He finished 21st in the 100 back at the Paris Olympic Games in 54.21, about seven-tenths shy of his personal best from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games when he was only 17-years old.

Cooper is now back into the 50 meter races, having finished 5th in the 50 free (21.15) on Friday to kick off the meet. His only other entry in the meet is the 50 fly on Sunday.

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mds
30 days ago

Among Americans swimming well:

Regan Smith

  • Won the 100 Back, :54.89, matching new Am. Record set by G Walsh in the Virginia-Florida dual meet.
  • Was 2nd to McKeown in 50 Back in :25.70; #3 on all-time American performer list (G Walsh, C Curzan)
  • In the next women’s event, she won 200 Fly in 2:01.85, 0.12 off Kelsi Dahlia’s Am Record.

Kate Douglass

  • Won 200 Breast by over 4 seconds in 2:15.96, just 1.39 off Soni 2009 2:14.57 WR
  • Won 100 IM in :56.99, #2 American all-time performer (:55.98 WR by G Walsh in Virginia-Florida dual)
  • Won 50 Fly in new AM Record, :24.54, beating Curzan’s :24.55

Charlie Clark won 1500. Trenton Julian won… Read more »

Thomas The Tank Engine
30 days ago

Cooper is following Michael Andrew old path.

I wonder when he will realize that Michael Andrew has now abandoned it.

Breezeway
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
30 days ago

You know he’s a member of that 50s only club called “Sprint Revolution”

Peter
30 days ago

Such a lazy swimmer. Cost Australia any chance of a relay medal in Paris

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  Peter
29 days ago

Australia would not have won men’s 4×100 medley bronze even if Cooper set 100 back PB.

Stephen Thomas
30 days ago

His best time for the 50 back stands at 22.52 from the previous edition of the World Championships in Melbourne December 2022

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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