Ryan Murphy Blasts #3 50 Back of All-Time For New American Record – 22.53

2021 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE – SEASON 3, MATCH 16 – PLAYOFFS MATCH 5

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Murphy dropped the third-fastest SCM 50 backstroke time in history during the ISL’s fifth playoff match in Eindhoven on Thursday, clocking 22.53 to inch out his own American and ISL Record.

Murphy used an explosive start and dynamic underwaters to dominate the talent-stacked field, breaking his previous national and league records of 22.54 set during the ISL Season 2 Final in Budapest.

The LA Current swimmer’s performance stacks up as the third-fastest ever, trailing  Florent Manaudou‘s world record of 22.22 set back at the 2014 Short Course World Championships in Doha and Kliment Kolesnikov‘s 22.47 from the European SC Championships earlier this month.

All-Time Performances, Men’s 50 Backstroke (SCM)

  1. Florent Manaudou (FRA), 22.22 – 2014
  2. Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 22.47 – 2021
  3. Ryan Murphy (USA), 22.53 – 2021
  4. Ryan Murphy (USA), 22.54 – 2020
  5. Guilherme Guido (BRA), 22.55 – 2019
  6. Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 22.57 – 2021
  7. Evgeny Rylov (RUS) / Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) 22.58 – 2018 / 2021
  8. Guilherme Guido (BRA) / Guilherme Guido (BRA), 22.60 – 2021 / 2021

Murphy didn’t compete at all during the ISL regular season this year, joining the Current for the first time during the first match of the Season 3 playoffs two weeks ago.

Despite the time off, the 26-year-old has been on fire since he entered the fold, winning the 50 back in all three of his appearances while also adding two wins apiece in the 100 and 200 back (with the 100 still to come here in Match 5 on Friday).

Murphy’s previous-fastest swim this season came at 22.63 in his win from last weekend.

Prior to Murphy’s swim on Thursday, the fastest time done in the ISL this season came from London’s Guilherme Guido, who clocked 22.60 in both Match 3 and Match 6.

Guido was in the field in Match 5, but fell to fourth, with DC Trident’s Mark Nikolaev putting up a time of 22.70 for second, while Energy Standard’s Kolesnikov took third in 23.04.

Prior to his record-breaking swim last year, Murphy was the official American Record holder with his time of 22.63 from the 2018 SC World Championships, despite the fact that Peter Marshall had gone 22.61 in 2009. That swim from Marshall was not recognized as the official American Record because it was done in November of ’09, during the period in which USA Swimming stopped recognizing national records due to the super-suits.

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Right Dude Here
2 years ago

The 50 back is one event I wouldn’t mind being exempted from the 15 meter rule. Just a whole blastoff contest.

Sub13
2 years ago

Four, possibly all five (any word on Florent?) of the top 10 performances of all time will be at the final next week.

Penguin
Reply to  Sub13
2 years ago

Better put, 9/10 performances, 4/5 performers (10/10 and 5/5 with Manadou)

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Sub13
2 years ago

He’s reuniting with the dancing queen. No way he’ll be there.

Crimson chin
2 years ago

Coleman Stewart > Ryan Murphy

Sub13
Reply to  Crimson chin
2 years ago

We’ll see next week. Men’s back is going to be absolutely stacked in the final.

Chad
2 years ago

What was Manadou’s best time before his WR swim? Prior to SC Worlds that year, I didn’t even know the guy could do backstroke. Then BAM! Dude sets a WR that no one has touched in 7 years.

Vitto0113
Reply to  Chad
2 years ago

Probabily something like 22 hig doin at Fr nationals

Last edited 2 years ago by Vitto0113
Aaron
Reply to  Chad
2 years ago

His best time before the 22.22 was a 22.97 in the semifinals. His best time before 2014 SC Worlds was a 22.98 at french SC nationals a month before.

HJones
2 years ago

Should be the *third* fastest all-time, behind Manadou’s WR and KK’s 22.47 from EC’s this year.

CasualSwimmer
2 years ago

And yet, Manaudou’s WR still stands far ahead of the rest of the field !

NoMoreJackpots
2 years ago

Didnt kolesnikov go 22.47 or something at euros couple weeks back?

Big Mac #1
2 years ago

The true hottest Olympian #snubbed

Last edited 2 years ago by Lucas Caswell
Verram
Reply to  Big Mac #1
2 years ago

Lol true but I think the selectors simply got distracted by the size of Dressel’s gold medal winning haul in Tokyo ..

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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