Performance of the Week: David Plummer’s 100 Backstroke

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This week featured lots of stateside racing, with elite swimmers across the country hitting the pool to gear up for the U.S. Olympic Trials, starting in less than three weeks. While every swimmer is in a slightly different phase of their rest for Trials, the results from these meets still gave an indication of which athletes to watch at Trials.

One of the biggest standout swims from this week came from American David Plummer. Swimming at the Arena Pro Series in Indianapolis, Plummer vaulted himself to number two in the world in the 100 backstroke and pegged himself as a spoiler going into Trials. Touching in 52.40, Plummer moved past his best time 52.51 from the 2015 World Cup Tour and became the fourth fastest American ever in the event. More importantly for him, he also moved to first among U.S. men in this event for the 2016 season.

With this swim, it looks like the men’s 100 backstroke may be the event to watch at Trials this summer. The top three American men have all been under 52.5, which means between Plummer, defending 2012 gold medalist Matt Grevers, and the world leader from 2015, Ryan Murphy, it is very likely that a serious medal challenger will be left off of the U.S. roster in this event come Rio. Murphy posted a 52.75 this weekend at the Santa Clara stop of the Arena Pro Series, and Grevers won in 53.48. Plummer has represented the United States at the World University Games, Pan Pacific Championships, and World Championships, but Rio would be his first Olympic berth.

Congratulations David Plummer on earning Swimming World’s Performance of the Week!

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