2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS
- Sunday June 26th-Sunday July 3rd, 2016
- Century Link Center – Omaha, Nebraska
- Friday-Sunday – Prelims – 11:00 am EDT Finals – 7:45 pm EDT
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- NBC Televison Coverage Schedule
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- Live results
Dynamo’s Michael Taylor swam 1:56.78 in the semifinals of the men’s 200 back tonight to take down the Junior World Record set by Li Zhuhao at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia last summer.
His splits from today’s record-breaking swim are below:
- 27.27
- 29.66 (57.25)
- 29.67
- 28.44 (59.53)
His swim tonight also places him fifth in the all-time American rankings, behind only the likes of Aaron Peirsol, Michael Phelps, Jack Conger, and Ryan Murphy. The all-time American 17-18 rankings are below:
- Aaron Peirsol: 1:55.15 (2002)
- Michael Phelps: 1:55.30 (2004)
- Jack Conger: 1:55.47 (2013)
- Ryan Murphy: 1:55.87 (2013)
- Michael Taylor: 1:56.78 (2016)
Taylor came up fifth in the semifinals, scoring the seventeen-year-old a slot in the final tomorrow night. He will take on the final against Murphy (1:55.04), Jacob Pebley (1:55.18), Tyler Clary (1:55.92), Sean Lehane (1:56.43), Austin Katz (1:57.79), Robert Owen (1:57.79), and Hennessey Stuart (1:58.20).
Earlier this week in prelims, Taylor swam the second-fastest American 17-18 100 backstroke with 53.77.
See the full results of the men’s 200 backstroke semifinals here.
The splits that are shown here are Ryan Murphy’s splits from the semis, not Taylor’s.
I know Micheal was about 1 second faster but there is another 17-18 year old in the final, Austin Katz who was 3rd behind Micheal at Junior Worlds in the 200 back. Men’s backstroke looks like it will continue to be strong for a while at least.
You’re right to mention him.
Great article, great swim!
Just one point of note- the former world record was held by Li Guangyuan.
Junior* world record.
Race video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlGLq7Q9T14
He’s one the biggest revelations of this week.
We already knew his name as he won 2 silver medals at last year’s world junior championships in the 100 and 200 back.
But he’s at another level now and crushed his best times under pressure against the best Americans.
We had a 3-guy battle in the 100 back this year. I think we’ll have a 3-guy battle in each backstroke event in 2020 with Murphy, Conger and Taylor.
Conger? You the leader of the “conger should never swim backstroke again” fan club. And I agree
Sorry I don’t know why I wrote Conger. I meant Pebley of course.
Aaron Peirsol, what a BA!
The greatest backstroker ever.
A legend!
Has he committed to any college?
No idea but as he’s from Dynamo, maybe Georgia?
Wow! What a awesome last 50!!!