{"id":530636,"date":"2023-06-28T17:36:26","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T00:36:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=530636"},"modified":"2023-06-28T20:04:01","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T03:04:01","slug":"u-s-nationals-ryan-murphy-uses-strong-final-turn-to-claim-mens-200-backstroke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/u-s-nationals-ryan-murphy-uses-strong-final-turn-to-claim-mens-200-backstroke\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Nationals: Ryan Murphy Uses Strong Final Turn to Claim Men’s 200 Backstroke"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ryan Murphy<\/strong> calmly swam a race just good enough to earn the top seed.<\/p>\n

But in the finals, he used a huge final turn to get to the wall in 1:55.03, more than a half second ahead of the field.<\/p>\n

It has become a huge racing weapon.<\/p>\n

“It is not like I go into the race saying, ‘Here is my weapon,’ but it is definitely something I work on every day,” Murphy said. “I go into practice every single day working on the details and turns are a part of that – but that is definitely not the only thing I am working on.”<\/p>\n

Unlike the women’s 200 backstroke that was loaded with Olympians and champions, there weren’t many swimmers on paper that looked to give Murphy a run for the title.<\/p>\n

“I had a plan going in. I wanted go nail the 75-125. Being hyper-critical, I felt a little disjointed and sometime that happens on taper. I am excited to have another three weeks to dial that in.”<\/p>\n

It is the fifth time Murphy has qualified for world championships (he won a world title last year). He sees himself as one of the elder statesmen of the team now, something he saw first-hand the importance of when he was a younger swimmer.<\/p>\n

“I still think of myself as a 20-year-old guy because it is really fun for me, but I was talking with Caeleb (Dressel) about this the other day. I feel like we are in the (Matt) Grevers-Nathan Adrian<\/strong> role, the guys who were older and captains when we were starting to get on teams – that is cool,” Murphy said. “I remember the way that I was viewing those guys and hanging on every word they would say. I don’t know what the younger guys think of me, but it is cool to think that maybe they are thinking of me like that.”<\/p>\n

The second spot was still out there and a talented field rose to the occasion.<\/p>\n

Cal’s Destin Lasco<\/strong> took the second spot in 1:55.63, a half second ahead of Jack Aikins<\/strong> and Daniel Diehl<\/strong> who tied for third in 1:56.04.<\/p>\n

Lasco was beaming when he saw his finish.<\/p>\n

“Look at Destin’s reaction after the race, that is what keeps me fresh,” Murphy said. “He is wicked underwater. I feed off of (the young kids’) energy every day. They are excited every day.”<\/p>\n

Lasco, who made the team on the 100 free for the 400 free relay, brings a positive energy to everything he does, something that rubs off on the rest of the team.<\/p>\n

“I don’t even know if I could tell you what happened. I just blacked out and let my body take over,” Lasco said. “That field was so fast. I was so glad to get my hand on the wall.”<\/p>\n

Going to worlds with Murphy means even more to the Cal swimmer.<\/p>\n

“It has always been a dream of mine to be on an international stage with that guy. I missed it twice and third time is a lucky charm,” Lasco said. “It goes back to not giving up. This is a step in the right direction toward 2024.”<\/p>\n