Xu Jiayu Wins Stacked Men’s 100 Back Final Over Rylov, Larkin (RACE VIDEO)

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Xu Jiayu Successfully Defended His 100 Back Title. Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

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World Swimming Championships

Gwangju, Day 3 finals

Men’s 100m backstroke

It was a race that featured the last three world champions as well as the reigning Olympic Champion and world-record holder. But at the end of the day, China’s Xu Jiayu successfully defended his 100 back world title with a 52.43. It wasn’t a particularly fast time as Xu has been under 52 seconds in the past, but the gold medal will last forever as he now joins Aaron Peirsol as the only swimmers to successfully defend the 100 back at the World Championships. Peirsol won three titles from 2003-2007.

The 2013 World Champion Matt Grevers, 2015 World Champion Mitch Larkin and 2016 Olympic Champion and world-record holder Ryan Murphy were part of the stacked race, but could not dethrone the Chinese champion. In fact, it was Russia’s Evgeny Rylov who won the silver medal in 52.67 while Australia’s Mitch Larkin won the bronze medal at 52.77. Larkin returns to the podium for the first time since winning gold in 2015.

USA’s Murphy went out fastest at 25.05 and was under his world record pace. He was leading for about 75 meters before he tightened up over the final 25 and finished in fourth, .01 off the podium at 52.78. Grevers finished in fifth at 52.82. This is the first time the men’s 100 back podium won’t feature an American since 2011.

Murphy indicated before the meet that his focus was not on peaking at the World Championships, but instead defending his Olympic titles next year in Tokyo. Still, it was a surprise to see the veteran struggle down the stretch and watch others cruise by. Murphy covered the last lap in 27.73, sixth-fastest in the field and more than a half-second slower than the coming-home speed of Xu.

Japan’s Ryosuke Irie, competing in his sixth straight World Championships final in the 100 back, placed sixth at 53.22. Irie only has one medal in this event as he won bronze in 2011.

Brazil’s Guilherme Guido (53.26) and Romania’s Robert Glinta (54.22) placed seventh and eighth in the final.

1	XU	Jiayu	CHN	52.43
2	RYLOV	Evgeny	RUS	52.67
3	LARKIN	Mitchell	AUS	52.77
4	MURPHY	Ryan	USA	52.78
5	GREVERS	Matt	USA	52.82
6	IRIE	Ryosuke	JPN	53.22
7	GUIDO	Guilherme	BRA	53.26
8	GLINTA	Robert	ROU	54.22

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Brett Davies

4 years ago

The USA team seems a little unprepared for these World’s.
That is excepting Caleb Dressel

Sean Abbey

4 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Lilly King is performing as well. Team on a whole looks like dogs though. Not only not medaling but not even putting swimmers in the finals. Relays look to be heading for some major disappointment.

Brett Davies

4 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Sean Abbey Yep just not really there as a whole. Both mens and womens 200 free no finalists. Now when last did that happen to USA.

Dave Hoover

4 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

The Men’s 4 x 100 free relay was pretty outstanding with Zach Apple going 46.8 and Adrian a 47.0. It’s nice to get a good World’s meet but it’s the Olympics that matter . The U.S. always seems to show up for that one and leave the SC worlds, etc to the want-a-be’s…

Jhann Bangloy-Mantala

4 years ago

What happened to USA Swimming?

svayam

4 years ago

Reply to Jhann Bangloy-Mantala

Not much talent for all the money they invest in swimming 🙁

Dave Hoover

4 years ago

Reply to Jhann Bangloy-Mantala

Resting for the Olympics…

Steven Chung

4 years ago

Apart from Dressel, the rest of the US team are in free fall. Too much relaxing in Singapore?

Jason Swaim

4 years ago

Reply to Steven Chung

Free fall lol

Pike Hightower

4 years ago

Reply to Steven Chung

Which is not the same as being caught with your fly down

Dave Hoover

4 years ago

Reply to Steven Chung

I don’t know if I’d go that far yet. But we’ve had some mediocre World’s in the past, only to back in your face full throttle at the Olympics, when it truly matters.

Jason Swaim

4 years ago

A bad weekend once or twice every 4 years is expected. Don’t worry, let’s see what happens next summer.

Yanjing Wang

4 years ago

Well done everyone hard work.