Olympic swimming: American Grevers wins men’s 100-m backstroke gold
July 31st, 2012 - 2:57 pm ICT by IANSLondon, July 31 (IANS/RIA Novosti) American Matthew Grevers powered to gold in the men’s 100 metres backstroke final Monday, setting a new Olympic record along the way.
The double Beijing Olympics champion in relays was second on the turn but pushed hard in the final straight to win it in 52.16 seconds.
That easily bettered Aaron Piersol’s 2008 Olympic record of 52.54, when Grevers took the silver.
“It feels incredible. I came so close back in 2008 and when Aaron retired I knew I stood a chance.”
Grevers’ teammate Nick Thoman claimed the silver in 52.92 seconds, with the bronze going to Japan’s Ryosuke Irie, who was a split second back.
Thoman said there were no hard feelings losing out to a teammate.
“We are all members of team USA. They’re great teammates and we all help push each other. They’re great guys and this result is down to everyone,” said Thoman, a World Champion in the 4×100-metre medley.
Home favourite Liam Tancock, the world record holder in the 50 metres backstroke, could only manage fifth.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
ss/vt
- Olympic swimming: Clary shocks Lochte for 200m backstroke gold - Aug 03, 2012
- Phelps caps career with gold in Olympic relay - Aug 05, 2012
- Olympic swimming: Franklin backstrokes to 100-m gold - Jul 31, 2012
- Olympics: Franklin sinks world record to clinch 200m backstroke gold - Aug 04, 2012
- Aaron Piersol Wins Back Title - Jul 09, 2009
- Olympic athletics: Russia's Antyukh storms to 400m hurdles gold - Aug 09, 2012
- Olympic swimming: French Agnel destroys field for 200-m free gold - Jul 31, 2012
- Australian Seebohm sets record in backstroke heats - Jul 29, 2012
- Olympic pole vault: France's Lavillenie soars to gold - Aug 11, 2012
- Olympic gymanstics: Mustafina wins first women's gold for Russia - Aug 07, 2012
- Olympic 5,000m: Ethiopia's Defar stuns Dibaba for gold - Aug 11, 2012
- Olympic athletics: Kenyan Rudisha wins gold in Men's 800m - Aug 10, 2012
- Olympic athletics: Russian Zaripova wins 3000m steeplechase gold - Aug 07, 2012
- Olympic gymnastics: South Korea's Yang wins men's vault - Aug 07, 2012
- Olympic athletics: Felix wins 200m gold - Aug 09, 2012
Tags: 2008 olympic, aaron piersol, backstroke, beijing olympics, liam tancock, medley, no hard feelings, olympic record, olympic swimming, olympics, relays, ria novosti, ryosuke irie, ss, team usa, teammate, teammates, thoman, world champion, world record holder