Watch Larkin win 100 Backstroke at World Championships – Race Video

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MEN’S 100M BACKSTROKE – FINALS

2013 World Champion: Matt Grevers, USA – 52.93
World Record: 51.94 – Aaron Peirsol, USA – 2009
Championship Record: 52.19 – Aaron Peirsol, USA – 2009

GOLD: Mitchell Larkin, AUS – 52.40
SILVER: Camille LaCourt, FRA – 52.48
BRONZE: Matt Grevers, USA – 52.66

Mitchell Larkin completed the sweep of the 100 backstroke for Australia, winning the event with a time of 52.40. It was very close at the touch, but he held of the Silver medalist, Camille LaCourt of France, who finished .08 seconds behind with a 52.48.

Matt Grevers was first at the 50m mark but was unable to maintain the lead, falling to third with his final time of 52.66. Xu Jiayu of China just missed the podium and was the only other swimmer under the 53 second barrier, finishing fourth at 52.89.

The two British finalists, Chris Walker-Hebborn and Liam Tancock, finished fifth and eighth, respectively. Walker-Hebborn finished with a time of 53.02 and Tancock posted a 53.37.

Irie Ryosuke of Japan was the favorite coming into the meet. He finished sixth at 53.10. Seventh place when to Russia’s Evgeny Rylov with a 53.23.