Rio Olympics: Ryan Murphy wins gold in 200-meter backstroke
The United States' Ryan Murphy celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 200-meter backstroke final during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Credit: AP / Martin Meissner
America has its latest backstroke great.
Ryan Murphy completed a sweep of the men’s backstroke events, taking gold in the 200 meters Thursday night at the Rio Olympics.
Murphy also won the 100 back, becoming the third American man in the last three Olympics to take both races. Aaron Peirsol pulled off the sweep at Athens in 2004 and Lenny Krayzelburg claimed both golds at the 2000 Sydney Games.
The 21-year-old Murphy touched in 1 minute, 53.62 seconds. Australia’s Mitch Larkin grabbed the silver in 1:53.96, just ahead of Russia’s Evgeny Rylov with the bronze in 1:53.97.
The United States has not lost a men’s backstroke final at the Olympics since 1992.
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