North America Recap Day 3: Ryan Murphy Extends U.S. Streak In 100 Back

2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Swimming: August 6-13
• Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Barra Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro
• Prelims – 9:00 a.m/12:00 p.m PST/EST (1:00 p.m local), Finals – 6:00 p.m/9:00 p.m PST/EST (10:00 p.m local)
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• Rio Schedule & Results
• Live Stream (NBC)

Once again the North Americans had an incredible night in the pool, winning more than 50% of the medals awarded on the night with seven, including a few Olympic records and a national record to boot.

The biggest story came in the men’s 100 back, where Ryan Murphy kept America’s winning streak alive, giving them six consecutive gold medals in the event. Murphy broke the Olympic record with the 2nd-fastest swim in history, 51.97. Beginning back in Atlanta in 1996, Murphy carries on the tradition that was created by Jeff Rouse, Lenny Krayzelburg, Aaron Peirsol and Matt Grevers.

The Olympic record that Murphy broke previously belonged to Grevers, set from his swim in 2012 of 52.16. Murphy also narrowly missed the world record which belongs to Peirsol from 2009. That record of 51.94 was done during the tech suit era, making Murphy’s swim the fastest textile in history, surpassing Grevers’ 52.08 from the 2012 US Trials.

Joining Murphy on the podium was his American teammate David Plummer, who was off his performances from the Olympic Trials but still found his way onto the podium touching 3rd in 52.40. That swim marks the culmination of a long journey for Plummer, who missed the Olympic team four years ago by 12 one-hundredths of a second.

Along with six straight wins, the Americans have also put two men on the podium at three straight Olympics in the 100 back.

This wasn’t the only big story to come from North Americans on night 3, there were plenty. Take a look at some of the other stories:

• American Lilly King won a controversial 100 breaststroke final over convicted doper Yuliya Efimova, who couldn’t match the fiery teenager and had to settle for silver. King set a new Olympic record in 1:04.93, and her American teammate Katie Meili won bronze in 1:05.69. Canadian Rachel Nicol and Jamaican Alia Atkinson also swam in the final, finishing 5th and 8th respectively.
• Not to be overshadowed are the Canadians, who, after winning just three swimming medals over the past three Olympics, now have three in three days here in Rio. The Canadian women also hadn’t won a medal since 1996, and now have all three here. Adding to the count tonight was Kylie Masse, who tied for bronze in a new national record of 58.76.
• Americans also won medals in the other two finals of the night, with Kathleen Baker winning silver ahead of Masse in the 100 back and Conor Dwyer winning bronze in the 200 free. That is Baker’s first career Olympic medal, and it’s Dwyer’s second (and first individual).
• The highlight from the three semi-finals we saw tonight was Michael Phelps, who became the first swimmer in history to final in the same event at 5 consecutive Olympics. Phelps will battle it out with rival Chad Le Clos tomorrow night in the 200 fly final.
• Also advancing out of their respective semi-finals tonight were Americans Katie Ledecky (200 fr), Maya Dirado and Melanie Margalis (200 IM), and Canadian Sydney Pickrem (200 IM).
• Though it wasn’t a record or medal-winning swim, Olivia Smoliga swam a personal best in the women’s 100 back to finish 6th, missing a medal by less than two tenths.

The U.S.  nearly doubled their medal count on day 3, taking it from 8 to 14. They now clear the next best team, China, by ten.They also lead in gold medals with four over Australia and Hungary’s two.

The Canadians are still the only North American nation with swimming medals, adding one to their total tonight for 3. That ties them with the Australians for the second most medals of any swimming country thus far; an incredible improvement from past Olympics.