{"id":265539,"date":"2017-07-11T05:00:05","date_gmt":"2017-07-11T12:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=265539"},"modified":"2017-07-11T12:15:09","modified_gmt":"2017-07-11T19:15:09","slug":"fina-world-championships-predictions-mens-100-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/fina-world-championships-predictions-mens-100-back\/","title":{"rendered":"FINA World Championships Predictions: Men’s 100 Back"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ryan Murphy<\/strong> is the Olympic gold medalist and world record-holder in the men’s 100 back, but winning that event at this summer’s FINA World Championships might not be so easy for the 22-year-old.<\/p>\n

That’s because China’s\u00a0Xu Jiayu<\/strong> has thrown down a massive effort already this year, uncorking a 51.86 back in April to come up just one hundredth short of Murphy’s world record. And he didn’t come out of nowhere\u2014Xu was the silver medalist behind Murphy in the event in Rio.<\/p>\n

Murphy, meanwhile, has yet to even crack 53 this year in his signature event, and he was beaten by\u00a0Matt Grevers\u00a0<\/strong>at U.S. Nationals.\u00a0Dave Durden<\/strong>, Murphy’s coach at Cal and the head men’s coach for the U.S. World Champs team, isn’t worried<\/a>. Should he be?<\/p>\n

Read below to see what\u00a0Swimming World’s\u00a0<\/em>trio of experts think will happen in\u00a0Budapest.\u00a0David Rieder<\/strong>,\u00a0John Lohn<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Andy Ross<\/strong>\u00a0will each offer their predictions for\u00a0who will finish on the podium.<\/p>\n

Men’s\u00a0100 Back<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Current Records:<\/h3>\n

World Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Ryan Murphy, USA (2016) — 51.85
\nChampionship Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009) — 52.19
\nAmerican Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Ryan Murphy (2016) — 51.85<\/p>\n

2015 World Champion:<\/strong>\u00a0Mitch Larkin, AUS — 52.40
\n2016 Olympic Gold Medalist:<\/strong>\u00a0Ryan Murphy, USA — 51.97
\n2017 World No. 1:<\/strong>\u00a0Xu Jiayu, CHN — 51.86<\/p>\n

Swimming World Predictions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

David Rieder’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong>\u00a0Xu Jiayu, CHN
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Ryan Murphy, USA
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Mitch Larkin, AUS<\/p>\n

John Lohn’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong>\u00a0Ryan Murphy, USA
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Xu Jiayu, CHN
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Matt Grevers, USA<\/p>\n

Andy Ross’ Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong>\u00a0Ryan Murphy, USA
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Xu Jiayu, CHN
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Matt Grevers, USA<\/p>\n

Previous\u00a0Events<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Day One:<\/h3>\n