Race Video: Watch Natalie Coughlin Break The 50 Backstroke American Record

As reported by SwimSwam’s Karl Ortegon:

WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE

Etiene Medeiros swam well this morning, but Natalie Coughlin absolutely zoomed this race, going a 27.51 to destroy her own personal best and break the American Record at the same time. She is now ranked 3rd in the world in that event. Medeiros would settle for third, as Rachel Bootsma was 2nd in 28.05. That American Record was previously held by her. Fernanda Gonzalez Ramirez of Mexico grabbed 4th place (28.86) and was the last swimmer to dip below 29 seconds. Medeiros still does own the world’s fastest time this year in this event.

2014-2015 LCM Women 50 Back

YuanhuiCHN
FU
08/06
27.11
2Etiene
MEDEIROS
BRA27.2608/06
3Emily
SEEBOHM
AUS27.4704/07
4Natalie
COUGHLIN
USA27.5106/19
5Xiang
LU
CHN27.5808/06
View Top 26»

Ali DeLoof, who nearly made the World Champs team for the U.S. in the 5o back, grabbed the B final win with a quick 28.97 out of lane 8. Guatemala’s Gisela Morales touched 2nd in 29.14.

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hswimmer
9 years ago

She made Missy look really bad lol!

bobo gigi
9 years ago

Hard for me to watch Missy’s start next to Natalie.
It was one of her worst backstroke starts ever.
It has never been great but here it’s….
I know it was just after the 200 free so she was very tired but it’s still….
And to think that after 2 years at Cal with Teri McKeever, I thought it would have improved a lot…
No, unfortunately, it still looks….
Hopefully it will be a little better tonight in the 100 back.

By the way, congrats to Natalie. Speed comes with age. Amazing.

Sean S
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

I don’t see how she can win gold in Rio with a start like that, you simply can’t afford to fall more than a body length behind in the first 15 meters. And I know it was bad in London and she still won, but her start and underwaters seem to have gotten worse while the rest of the field is taking advantage of a wedge.

Swimmer
9 years ago

Anyway we can get Cody Miller’s race video?

bobo gigi
Reply to  Swimmer
9 years ago

About Tony Carroll

Tony Carroll

The writer formerly known as "Troy Gennaro", better known as Tony Carroll, has been working with SwimSwam since April of 2013. Tony grew up in northern Indiana and started swimming in 2003 when his dad forced him to join the local swim team. Reluctantly, he joined on the condition that …

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