Ryan Murphy Continues American Dominance With Gold Medal Performance In 200 Back

by Taylor Brien

11 August 2016, 06:44pm

Men’s 200 Back FINAL:

The newest King of American backstroke continued his dominance in finals of the men’s 200 backstroke with his second individual gold medal of the Olympic Games. Ryan Murphy shot off the start with only Japan’s Ryosuke Irie posting a faster reaction time.

It was clear from the start that it would be a show-down between Murphy and Australia’s Mitch Larkin. Larkin made it to the first turn with a 26.61 over Murphy’s 27.10, but it didn’t take long for Murphy to build speed and start to pull ahead of Larkin. Larkin pulled closer to Murphy during the final 50-meters of the race, but was unable to catch Murphy who stopped the clock at a 1:53.62 over his own 1:53.96.

Murphy’s gold medal continues a tradition of American dominance in the backstroke events, claiming the USA’s sixth straight gold in the event.

Russia’s Evgeny Rylov hung close to Larkin at the end to pick up the bronze medal with a time of 1:53.97, effectively separating the top three from the rest of the competition.

China’s Xu Jiayu grabbed fourth overall with a final time of 1:55.16, while teammate Li Guangyuan was sixth with a time of 1:55.89. Sandwiched between the two teammates was Jacob Pebley of the USA with a 1:55.52.

Germany’s Christian Diener, though second to the wall at the 50, slipped to seventh overall with a time of 1:56.27, just ahead of Japan’s Ryosuke Irie’s 1:56.36.

Full results from tonight available here.

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Chuck Kroll

7 years ago

Congratulations Ryan! You join a select few USA men’s Olympians to do the dorsal double!
Looking back on those who have 100/200 backstroked to Gold before…
2004 Aaron Peirsol
2000 Lenny Krayzelburg
1984 Rick Carey
1976 John Nabor
1972 Michael Stamm
Note-The 100/200 Backstroke double was first swam/swum/swimmind at the 1968 Games.

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