Men's 100 Meter Backstroke

This is America's race. The only time since John Naber broke the World Record in 1976 at the Montreal games that an American hasn't held the WR was when Igor Poliansky held it for about 5 months in 1988. Aaron Peirsol is the current WR holder, has the 5 or 6 fastest times in history and is the favorite to win Gold in Beijing. Even if you see him down by as much as a meter at the 50, you cannot count him out as he really knows how to bring it home and has a great finish where he dives his head underwater and really reaches for the wall.


Aaron Peirsol is the only man to go under 53 in the 100 Back

 

The US is also sending Matt Grevers (right), who had to beat a lot of the best swimmers in the world in this event to make the team. Peirsol called the finals in the 100 Back at Omaha one of the best races he has ever swum, it is likely that final was more competitive than the final in Beijing will be. Just another example of where I wish that teams could take 3 swimmers in each event as Ryan Lochte would be in this one as well. His time in finals would probably have been enough to get him on the medal stand in Beijing. 9 of the top 11 swimmers this year are American, making that final one of the most competitive races swimming. I haven't found video yet of this final, but I will post when I do, it is an amazing race.

Helge Meeuw set the European Record at German Nats this year with a time of 53.10. He figures to give the American's the best competition in Beijing. Australia will be sending Ashley Delaney (53.68) and Hayden Stoeckel (53.86) each to their first Olympics.

 

 

Medal Predictions:

Video:

Watch Aaron Peirsol win gold in Athens

Aaron Peirsol talks about his swims at trials and races in Beijing

 

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