Ok, so Katie Ledecky was the story on day 3 of the 2013 World Championships, American, whatever scene.
There’s going to be so much written about Ledecky though, I thought I’d dedicate this space to another American triumph, specifically the gold-and-silver medal finish in the 100 backstroke from Matt Grevers and David Plummer on Tuesday.
Consider this. Through the 2007 World Championships, the Americans had won three straight World Championships in the 100 backstroke, and for the two previous incarnations had won both gold and silver.
Then a strange thing happened: in 2009 and 2011, the Americans didn’t win a single medal. Not one, over two years; in 2009, they only had one finalist (Matt Grevers).
But on Tuesday, the trends of the last two decades were restored, and the Americans won both the gold and the silver medals.
So here’s the twist. If you look back through Olympic and World Championship history, the Americans are dominant in the backstrokes. They’ve won 9 out of a possible 14 gold medals in the 200 at Worlds; 7 out of 16 in the 100; and the numbers are even more staggering in the Olympics: 14 golds in 24 meets (and 35 out of 73 medals total) in the 100 backstroke, plus 8 out of 14 gold medals in the 200 backstroke at the Olympics (and 20 out of 42 total medals).
Hang on, we’re getting to the point.
The Americans have only won one medal ever in the 50 backstroke.
True, the 50 hasn’t been around as long as the other two races, but in the last 6 World Championship meets, the Americans have won 1 medal, which was a gold, from Randall Bal at the 2001 meet, in the 50 meter race.
American fans can hem-and-haw all they want about how little they care about the non-Olympic races like the 50’s, but the fact of the matter is that Americans like to win. Those who don’t care about the 50’s sure did care about the non-Olympic 1500 today when Ledecky was smashing the World Record.
If it’s an event, and it’s on the World Championship schedule, the Americans should be trying to win it. They should at least be trying to put their best forward in it. That is why, to me, adding qualification spots for the non-Olympic events for this year’s World Championships is the smartest decision the Americans have made regarding qualifying meets since they put the Olympic Trials in a basketball arena. It’s not going to be perfect year one, but if they stick with it, those medal numbers have to improve.
Eugene Godsoe showed the value of having those qualifications this year. He won the 50 at trials, then with that confidence boost went on to win the 100 fly as well, and take a silver medal in the 50 fly in Barcelona.
Other Day 3 Observations:
- Katie Ledecky and Lotte Friis were both out in 8:17’s in their marvelous 1500 freestyle battle.
- Shannon Vreeland closed very well in her 200 free semi-final – even faster than Federica Pellegrini. It’s hard to see anyone beating these American women in that 800 free relay. Ledecky is on fire, Missy is solid, Vreeland is solid. There will be some pressure on the 4th leg, but those top three are going to be hard to beat.
- Even with Michael Phelps, the Americans only had one finalist in the 200 fly at Worlds in 2011, Worlds in 2007, and Worlds in 2005. In 2013, aka the year 1 A.P. (after Phelps), the Americans put two into the final. Go figure.
- Lots of connections in the top 4 of the men’s 200 free. Dwyer and Lochte former training partners, Dwyer and Agnel current training partners. Has to make one wonder if Lochte’s globe-trotting is going to include a stop by the house that Bowman built.
Records Broken:
Katie Ledecky, 15-16 National Age Group Record, 1500 free, 15:36.53
Old Record: Katie Ledecky, 15:47.15, 2013 USA Swimming National Championships
Katie Ledecky, American Record, 1500 free, 15:36.53
Old Record: Katie Ledecky, 15:47.15, 2013 USA Swimming National Championships
Katie Ledecky, World Record, 1500 free, 15:36.53
Old Record: Kate Ziegler, United States, 15:42.54, 2007 Swim Meet of Champions
Pogo..
We have the 82 worlds..
100 Back – Rictcher (GDR), Carey and Shemetov (RUS)
200 back – Carey, Wladár (HUN) and and Baltrusch (GDR) so it would not be a clean sweep..
The most amazing stat about US dominance in the men’s 100 backstroke… it could easily have been a clean sweep of Olympic titles over almost 40 years. The boycott in 80 (don’t know who the best US backstroker was in that period ‘twixt Nabor in 76 and Carey in 84, and whether he’s have been a gold favorite in Moscow) obviously was a lost opportunity… and then in 88 and 92 two heavy US favorites lost in major upsets (Berkoff in 88, Rouse in 92). Since then, the US has won every Olympic gold in that event – Rouse, Krayzelburg, Piersol, and Grevers. Not to play the “could have/should have” game, but the Americans were not far off winning every… Read more »
and Pogo.. at 88 and 92 US did not win gold at both backstrokes at OG…
Congrats to Dwyer.. if he keeps improving.. he will have what it takes to fight against the whole Field (Izotov at 100%, Sun, Park and Bieldermann)
A bit surprised to see the NoLoctheFan not posting
Locthe should drop at all the 200 free.. if he can´t medal on such a slow field.. can´t see he even finaling by 2016.. maybe not making the 200 free spot at all on US team..
And Now I´m not so sure he will run away from Hagino on 200 IM.. Hagino is breaking all his PB while Locthe..
1 A.P………LOL love it!
But, I totally agree about the US deciding it will deign to treat the 50 strokes as real events with real medalists, and put forth their best qualifiers.
We’ve had some studs like Bal, Swander, Gangloff, Hesen, etc, who might as well compete if there is room on the roster.
For the RECORDS BROKEN, I believe that the old American record was Ziegler, not Ledecky, given that it was the WR until yesterday.
Braden, which event are you referring to here: “Even with Michael Phelps, the Americans only had one finalist at the Olympics in 2012, Worlds in 2011, the Olympics in 2008, Worlds in 2007, and Worlds in 2005. In 2013, aka the year 1 A.P. (after Phelps), the Americans put two into the final”?
Sorry, 200 fly. I’ll clear that up.
Tyler Clary got 5th in 2012.
Didn’t Clary get in the final in 2012? I think Tarwater was also a finalist in 2007, although they’ve always been a big drop away from medalling.
Also, correct me if I’m wrong but is this the first time that the US has two guys under a minute in the 100 breast in textile? Aside from Gangloff going under once at a local meet last year, I think Hansen’s the only textile sub minute breastroker we’ve had.
Nope. Shanteau went under a minute last year at the Olympics I believe. I’m not sure about trials though.
cordes went 59.99 i think at US trials
Cordes he went 1:00.58 at the Olympic trials. He went 59.99 at the Championship trials.
Anyone think Plummer will shoot for Rio or is he done before then?