Missy Franklin Destroys 200 Back World Record, Splits Compared

by Davis Wuolle 11

August 03rd, 2012 London 2012 Olympics, News

Missy Franklin (USA) blew out the Women’s 200m Backstroke World Record and the field along with it. Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) was in the pool to see her world and Olympic records shattered, well back in sixth. Franklin dropped a 0.75 off of the 2:04.81 swum by Coventry in 2009 in a Speedo LZR, putting up a 2:04.06. Franklin was out in a blistering 1:00.50 and hung onto her lead, besting the rest of the field by almost a full two seconds.

Anastasia Zueva (RUS) picked up the silver in 2:05.92 and Franklin’s teammate Elizabeth Beisel (USA) took the bronze in 2:06.55. Beisel adds that bronze to the silver medal she won in the women’s 200 IM.

The gold was the third that Franklin has won at these, her first, Olympics at only 17. She has also earned a bronze and looks to add to that in her final race, the women’s 4x100m Medley tomorrow night.

Splits Compared:

Women’s 200m Breaststroke 50m 100m (50m) 150m (50m) 200m (50m)
Kirsty Coventry (Rome 2009) WR 29.44 1:00.91 (31.47) 1:32.81 (31.90) 2:04.81 (32.00)
Missy Franklin (London 2012) WR 29.53 1:00.50 (30.97) 1:32.16 (31.66) 2:04.06(31.90)

Full Results

Kirsty Coventry Sets the World Record in Rome:

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Josh
12 years ago

Honestly, I’ve always felt that once she got the finishing speed in the 400 IM that Florida has trained into her, the 400 free was going to overtake the 200 back as her second best event. It still might, but after watching her in London, she’s going to get under 2:06 in the 200 back soon.

Josh
12 years ago

I’d like to see Beisel swim the 200 free more. I bet if she time trialed it she would be a 1;57 high to 1:58 low right now.

ZYNG43
Reply to  Josh
12 years ago

she will be eventually!

Jg
Reply to  ZYNG43
12 years ago

But will it improve her finishing free? 😉

DanJohnRob
Reply to  Josh
12 years ago

I’ve followed her career closely, because I used to coach on the club team where she started, and I can tell you she doesn’t YET have the speed for that. However, the events swimmers are BEST at can change, so I agree, maybe as she gets older she’ll forgo the 400 free/IM in favor of the 200 free. Backstroke and ENDURANCE events have always been where she excelled.

CapsWolverinesUSA
12 years ago

The first 3 legs of our medley relay have set world records at this meet (albiet not all in 100’s, but still). That’s kind of hard to beat.

Yay Beisel
12 years ago

So proud of you Beisel! Also, she got silver in the 400 IM, not 200 🙂 Go Gators!

jean michel
12 years ago

She is gonna go back home with 4 golds , one bronze . The most decorated female of this huge meet ….so happy for her + a WR in such a fashion way .
Well deserved …her Coach must be very very happy today .

Dan
Reply to  jean michel
12 years ago

One more gold likely – women’s medley relay.

Ole 99
Reply to  Dan
12 years ago

It will be interesting to see what she can do in th 100 back without having to swim the 200 free right before. I’d like to think she can be faster, but then again, Phelps swam slower in the 100 fly today without the 200 IM before his race, so who knows.

DanJohnRob
Reply to  Ole 99
12 years ago

They’ll be swimming to break the WR, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Missy does break the 100 back WR. I just don’t think they CAN break the 400 MR WR, because Soni’s 100 breast time has been much slower this year, and Allison, as much as I love her, really can’t match Franklin’s 100 free time.