Mitch Larkin is quickly establishing himself as the swimmer to beat in backstroke. The 22-year-old from St Peter’s Western Swim Club put a scare into Aaron Peirsol’s long course 100 backstroke world record earlier this month in Dubai
He improved on that performance on the second night of the Hancock Prospecting Australian Short Course Championships, becoming the first swimmer to go under 1:46 in the short course 200 backstroke:
Larkin’s splits on the race were as follows:
24.46
26.89 (51.35)
27.07 (1:18.42)
27.21 (1:45.63)
Those splits suggest near perfect pacing on the race for Larkin. The previous world record was from 2009 and belonged to Arkady Vyatchanin at 1:46.11. Since that record was set, few have approached that level of performance. The fastest swim in the world last year was Radoslaw Kawecki‘s 1:47.37.
Larkin’s performance was so dominant that it put him nearly eight seconds ahead of his closest competitor. While short course swimming does not always correspond directly to long course, Larkin has proven he can race on that format as well and is looking extremely sharp with Rio coming fast on the horizon.
The reaction of the guy next to him is great!
Please some one, tell me about caeleb dressel! What kind of training he does, im just curious to know. He is doing so well right now. And yea i know he is talented but still, how hes so good!
I AGREE!!!
Why is Dressel so good?
Why is he swimmiing fast? It’s only November!!
Maybe Dressel is like Gatlin who can run/swim fast all year round?
I think only the great Bobo who can explain this phenomena why some swimmers can swim faster than others.
@G3
Thanksgiving in November is strictly an American Holiday.
I read somewhere few weeks ago in a Swimswam article that Larkin uses yoga practices for his preparations – this might indicate some serious regularity in his training / racing pace . They must be numerous unknown ( to us swimming fans ) factors that play an important role in his incredible shape as well on top of the addition of yoga . I use yoga stretching after each swimming sessions – it makes the whole session to be felt even more rewarding mentally / emotionally and physically . Sure enough , Murphy and Grevers are put on notice pretty early
I’m scared of this dude. I think he’s a pretty down to earth guy, he’s likable. But this is America, and we own the backstroke races at the Olympics. We’re going to need Grevers and Murphy to be at their absolute best next year to have a chance against him in the 100 and 200.
The one thing that’s kind of intriguing about Larkin is that he’s been throwing down these absurd times this fall. I can’t tell if that means he’s showing his cards early and you can expect him to be about the same next summer, or if he’s just getting warmed up and we will see a 51 mid and 1:51 mid from him in Rio?
Cool to hear or read something about Chris DeSantis. I believed he had disappeared. I remember a few years ago great videos on Floswimming with him and Mr McCaffrey. 🙂
Other race video, Caeleb Dressel’s 18.77 in the 50 free. In yards of course! 🙂
Not the best quality but still better than nothing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjl4Wg3VxPE
No surprise.
Every time he’s in the water since the world championships, he swims crazy fast times in long course.
Considering he’s better in short course, no surprise he breaks world records.
I just wonder how these swimmers like Hosszu, Seebohm or Larkin can swim best times or close to best times almost each time they swim.
Same questions about someone like Gatlin on track who can run times in the 100m about 9.80 every week from May to September.
These athletes don’t know the notion of taper or peaking. They peak all year.
Maybe they use USRPT! 😆
Bobo, indeed no surprise.
What about Ledecky, Sjostrom and Campbell? They also swam extremely fast every time they dipped their toe in the water.
Bobo, I am with you. Ledecky, Sjostrom and Campbell need to EXPLAIN WHY THEY SWIM SO FAST!!
I hate converted times, but that’s a 1:35.1 SCY. Remember how ridiculous Murphy’s 1:36.7 seemed?
well it only did seem ridiculous for americans, nobody else. especially when you know that was about as fast as lochte was in yards, and you know lochtes scm times.