We’re going to have to start a new Twitter account with the handle “@SwimSwamLarkin” for all the records this backstroking ace has broken over this World Cup series.  Larkin scored new Australian and Commonwealth Records in the  200m backstroke while competing in Tokyo and followed that up with the same honors for his 52.26 100m backtroke time in Doha.
Larkin lowers the shorter distance’s monstrous feat even further today, scoring a shiny new set of Australian and Commonwealth records by scorching a time of 52.11 to move his way ever closer to the elusive World Record mark. The as of yet untouchable WR stands at 51.94 held by USA’s Aaron Perisol from 2009.
In today’s race, Larkin was once again ahead of the WR pace into the first 50m, but dropped off just slightly as he neared the wall on the back half.
Here are the splits for the aforementioned races:
Peirsol 2009 – 25.35, 26.59 = 51.94
Larkin Doha – 25.32, 26.94 = 52.26
Larkin Dubai – 25.24, 26.87 = 52.11
Whereas Larkin’s 52.26 from Doha ranked as the 8th-fastest performance of all-time and moved Larkin to the 6th-fastest performer in the history of the event, today’s 52.11 rockets the Aussie to the 3rd-fastest performance of all-time, tied with France’s Camille Lacourt:
- Aaron Peirsol, USA – 51.94, 2009
- Matt Grevers, USA – 52.08, 2012
- Camille Lacourt, FRA – 52.11, 2010
- Matt Grevers, USA – 52.16, 2012
- Ryan Murphy, USA – 52.18, 2015 & Aaron Perisol, USA 52.18, 2009
Looks like the Rio final will have 8 guys swimming 52.5 or faster. Crazy!
Prediction for his 200 back tommarow
26.34
54.88 28.54
1:23.42 28.54
1:52.50 29.08
Second fastest time in history and new textile record
No way, it is going to be his last swim after 3 stops. He will be too tired.
He will still swim around 1:53 mid though.
Perhaps we’ve been overestimating this WR. Note that Peirsol was “only” a 1:52.9 swimmer when he set 51.94. Had he made this final in Rome ’09, we probably could’ve seen a 51.6. We’ve already seen a swimmer swim 1:52.9 in the 200back–I’d be surprised if we don’t see a WR in the 100back in Rio. That said with most champions of their events reaching suit level times– I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a 51.6.
Just some food for thought.
Very fast PB for Plummer. I hope he goes under 52.5 at trials and goes to Rio with Murphy
I’m a big Murphy fan too. I agree he has WR times in his reach next year. So does Larkin. Let’s not discount how special what Larkin is doing now. It is fun to watch.
Larkin tied the textile record of Lacourt.
World record will probably fall at next Australian trials.
Very impressed by the 52.51 of Plummer too. Didn’t expect that from him. At least not before olympic trials. Maybe it will wake up other American backstrokers who want to go to Rio. Like Grevers, Thoman and Murphy.
Stop worrying about American backstrokers, sweet Bobo.
As you have previously predicted, Ryan Murphy will rule backstroke. He was supposed to start ruling this year, but there was a bit of a glitch in Kazan. Next year Murphy will reign supreme!
And in fact, it is Larkin who should worry more. He has shown everything he has and is in the dark what Murphy is capable of (51.50, anyone?). American backstrokers will arrive in Rio and blitz the field!
pls stop fantasizing
as far as i know grevers holds the textile world record at 52.08 from 2012 trials