Mitch Larkin Breaks American Streak in 200 Back at 2015 FINA World Championships

Photo Courtesy: R-Sport / MIA Rossiya Segodnya

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Australia’s Mitch Larkin blasted to first in the men’s 200-meter back. Larkin powered into the final turn and took advantage of that final push to propel himself ahead of the competition turning in a 1:53.58 for the gold. Larkin’s time also further secures his spot at the top of the world rankings for 2015, lowering his time of 1:54.29. Larkin winning the event breaks an eight-meet streak that the Americans had held beginning with Lenny Krayzelburg in 1998. Aaron Peirsol dominated the event from 2001 until 2009 (skipping 2007), and Ryan Lochte won in 2007, 2011, and 2013.

Poland’s Radoslaw Kawecki finished second overall with a final time of 1:54.55. This betters his best time of 1:55.54, which he posted earlier in the meet, for 2015.

Russia’s Evgeny Rylov turned in a sizzling 1:54.60 to claim the bronze in the event. The eighteen-year-old improved upon his time of 1:55.54 which he posted earlier in the meet.

Ryosuke Irie of Japan posted a 1:54.81 to finish fourth in the event. Irie was .09 seconds off his 2015 best of 1:54.62 which he posted earlier this year at the BHP Super Series.

American Ryan Murphy took fifth with a time of 1:55.00. While Murphy lowered his 2015 best of 1:55.10 that he set earlier in the meet, this marks the first-time in the last eight meets that an American has not won the men’s 200 back.

China’s Jiayu Xu (1:55.20), USA’s Tyler Clary (1:56.26) and China’s Guangyuan Li (1:56.79) finished sixth, seventh, and eighth respectively.

Scheduled Events

Women’s 100 Free (Finals)
Men’s 200 Back (Finals)
Women’s 200 Back (Semis)
Men’s 50 Free (Semis)
Women’s 200 Breast (Finals)
Men’s 100 Fly (Semis)
Women’s 50 Fly (Semis)
Men’s 200 Breast (Finals)
Men’s 800 Free Relay (Finals)
Men’s 50 Free (Swim-Off)

2015 FINA World Championships Finals, Day 6 – Results

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