Larkin Smashes Australian Record in the 100m Backstroke (Race Video)

Mitch Larkin wrapped up his swims at the 2015 Hancock Prospecting Australian Short Course Nationals with a victory as well as new Australian, Commonwealth and All Comers records in the 100m backstroke. These previous records (49.25) all belonged to Larkin, after his swim at last years Short Course Championships in Adelaide, Australia.

Larkin has had a successful meet prior to his final race, setting an Australian record in the 50m backstroke (22.91) and setting the world record in the 200m backstroke (1:45.63), being the first man to go under 1:46.

Larkin set the record in the final of the men’s 100m backstroke event taking 0.21 seconds off of his previous record, touching the pads in a time of 49.04, almost breaking that 49 second barrier. Later in the evening, he lead off the St. Peters Western 400m medley relay and improved his record setting swim by 0.01 second, so the Australian, Commonwealth and All Comers records now stand at 49.03, just shy of Nick Thoman‘s world record of 48.94.

In the men’s 100m backstroke final, Larkin went out in 23.83, and came home in 25.21. In comparison, in his lead off swim for the relay, he went out even faster, in a time of 23.70 and came home a few splits slower than he did earlier in the night, but still fast enough to improve his record.