Olympics: Luke Greenbank Leads, Top Names All Make 200 Back Semis

Jul 27, 2021; Tokyo, Japan; Ryan Murphy (USA) in the men's 100m backstroke final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Murphy; Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY

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Olympics: Luke Greenbank Leads, Top Names All Make 200 Back Semis

Luke Greenbank made a run at the Olympic record, but short of that, the prelims of the men’s 200 backstroke Wednesday night were uneventful. That’s just fine by all the favorites in the event.

Greenbank led the way by winning the second heat of four in 1:54.63. It’s 1.2 ticks away from the Olympic record and within two tenths of his Great Britain mark. The rest of the contenders were content to push their way into Thursday morning semifinals without much consternation, save for one.

“Really chuffed with that,” Greenbank said. “It felt really controlled, really comfortable. I’m looking forward to the semifinals tomorrow.”

Evgeny Rylov, fresh off his silver medal in the 800 freestyle relay, coasted to the second fastest time in 1:56.02. Bryce Mefford was a little punch in taking a run at Rylov in the fourth and final heat, but he settled for the third overall seed in 1:56.37. Ryan Murphy was unperturbed in winning his heat in 1:56.92, the seventh-fastest time. Rylov is the reigning Olympic champion. Rylov, the two-time reigning world champ, won the 100 back. (Rio silver medalist Mitch Larkin opted for the 200 individual medley.)

Also in the semifinal are Grigory Tarasevich, who was the 25th seed entering and outside of the circle-seeded heats, though he dropped a 1:56.82 to get the fifth seed. That’s one behind the national record set by Juho Lee of South Korea (1:56.77).

Both Japanese swimmers, Ryosuke Irie in eighth and Keita Sunama in ninth, advanced comfortably.

The one to squeak into the final was Xu Jiayu of China, who went 1:57.76. That’s the 15th fastest time of prelims.

Men’s 200 Backstroke

World Record: Aaron Peirsol, United States, 1:51.92 (2009)
Olympic Record: Tyler Clary, United States, 1:53.41 (2012)

Luke Greenbank, Great Britain, 1:54.63
Evgeny Rylov, Russia, 1:56.02
Bryce Mefford, United States, 1:56.37
Juho Lee, South Korea, 1:56.77
Grigory Tarasevich, Russia, 1:56.82
Radoslaw Kawecki, Poland, 1:56.83
Ryan Murphy, United States, 1:56.92
Ryosuke Irie, Japan, 1:56.94
Keita Sunama, Japan, 1:57.07
Tristan Hollard, Australia, 1:57.24
Roman Mityukov, Switzerland, 1:57.45
Brodie Paul Williams, Great Britain, 1:57.48
Nicolas Garcia, Spain, 1:57.62
Adam Telegdy, Hungary, 1:57.70
Xu Jiayu, China, 1:57.76
Markus Thormeyer, Canada, 1:57.85

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