WATCH: Hunter Armstrong 50 Back World Record Celebration

2022 U.S. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS

Reported by Anne Lepesant.

MEN’S 50 METER BACKSTROKE – FINALS

  • World Record: 23.80 – Kliment Kolesnikov (2021)
  • American Record: 24.01 – Hunter Armstrong (2022)
  • US Open Record: 24.01 – Hunter Armstrong (2022)
  • Jr World Record: 24.00 – Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
  • FINA “A” Cut: 25.17
  • SwimSwam Preview – M50 Back

Podium:

  1. Hunter Armstrong, Ohio State – 23.71
  2. Justin Ress, Mission Viejo – 23.92
  3. Shaine Casas, Unattached – 24.00
  4. Ryan Murphy, Cal – 24.57
  5. Michael Andrew, MA Swim Academy – 24.80
  6. Adam Chaney, Florida – 24.82
  7. Jack Aikins, Virginia – 25.04
  8. Daniel Carr, Unattached – 25.10

In an explosive ending to the meet, Hunter Armstrong broke the World Record in the 50 back with a massive 23.71. After taking down the American and U.S. Open Records in prelims with 24.01, Armstrong took another three-tenths off his new PB to beat Kliment Kolesnikov’s 23.80 from European Championships last summer.

Justin Ress came in second in 23.92, becoming only the third swimmer in history to dip under the 24-second barrier. Third-place Shaine Casas almost did it as well, stopping the clock at 24.00.

Armstrong and Ress now lead the world rankings for the 2021-22 season. Kolesnikov is third. Casas is fourth, with nearly a half-second between him and fifth-place Robert Glinta of Roumania.

In This Story

21
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

21 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
2Fat4Speed
2 years ago

Hunter was off my radar leading up to the meet for the most part. When I saw that 100 back video I starting thinking top 4 for pickems. Still was shocked by this. Can’t wait to see the 100 back now!

Steve Nolan
2 years ago

Kissing the nose clip is next-level

College Swimmer
2 years ago

Gotta love the 2 anti-vax MAGAtts sticking together

steer
Reply to  College Swimmer
2 years ago

MAGA? where are u even getting that from

Washed swammer
Reply to  College Swimmer
2 years ago

Again with the negativity? Why should it matter that hes got different political opinions than you? Do you feel entitled enough to think that everyone has to think the same? Why can’t we just appreciate them for the excellent swimmers and people they are?

Please get a life.

Klorn8d
Reply to  College Swimmer
2 years ago

Hunter has been vaccinated

College Swimmer
Reply to  Klorn8d
2 years ago

Source? Cuz he was very adamantly against it during the Olympics

Octavio Gupta
2 years ago

MA the first guy over to congratulate him and he’s genuinely happy for him. The hate he gets is honestly sickening

anonymous
Reply to  Octavio Gupta
2 years ago

Ryan was happy for him too.

Chlorinetherapy
Reply to  Octavio Gupta
2 years ago

That was a really lovely moment and also nice to see Hunter speak to it in his interview.

CAA Swammer
Reply to  Octavio Gupta
2 years ago

Hunter is obviously MA’s closest ally in the pool, which is especially significant when others want to distance themselves from a controversial figure. Nobody said MA is a terrible friend, but he clearly chooses them carefully.

Swimmer
Reply to  CAA Swammer
2 years ago

I think I’ve missed this. What is it that’s controversial about HA? Incredible swim tonight.

CAA Swammer
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

My point was:

  • MA is controversial
  • Most people don’t want to associate with a controversial person
  • Hunter associates with MA (celebration, post-race interview)

This whole situation reflects more on Hunter as a great person & friend rather than MA. Of course MA celebrated with his closest ally, that shouldn’t be surprising. The fact that MA is celebrating mostly with someone who shares his beliefs actually contributes to his polarization, in my opinion.

Last edited 2 years ago by CAA Swammer
turboturtle
Reply to  CAA Swammer
2 years ago

I think you might be a bit of a goofball.

CAA Swammer
Reply to  turboturtle
2 years ago

I agree! I’m just an ignorant observer who loves watching fast swimming. Fast swimming is exactly what both of these guys are doing!

I also have no problem with reasonable criticism of public figures for their actions & words. There’s nothing MA has done this week that deserves the negativity directed towards him. That said, I think some of the concern last summer was justified and I hope the Andrew family stops stirring controversy, even as an unintended side-effect of oversharing opinions.

MA swims 56 100br in Paris
Reply to  CAA Swammer
2 years ago

Give it a rest dude

steer
Reply to  CAA Swammer
2 years ago

yea no thats just you, thankfully

Chlorinetherapy
Reply to  CAA Swammer
2 years ago

Those last three words are the most significant.

Joe
Reply to  CAA Swammer
2 years ago

Who said they do not want to associate with MA?

Chlorinated One
Reply to  CAA Swammer
2 years ago

And the fact that MA is such a media wh*re that he has to jump over lane lines to steal HA’s spotlight. Let HA have his moment as a new WR holder. Such a fantastic meet for him!

Hannah
Reply to  CAA Swammer
2 years ago

If you look at MAs Instagram he is clearly close to many swimmers he’s competed against and trained with. I do think he and Hunter have a special bond but I’m pretty sure they bonded over religion, not a hatred of vaccines or something.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

Read More »