2017 ENERGY FOR SWIM!
- August 8th & 9th
- Foro Italico Pool, Rome, Italy
- LCM
- Meet Site
- Schedule of Events
- Rosters
- Results
While competing at the inaugural Energy for Swim! Charity meet in Rome, Italy, young Russian Kliment Kolesnikov lowered his own World Junior Record en route to winning the men’s 100m backstroke. Not deterred by a field which included American world record holder Ryan Murphy and last year’s world champion Mitch Larkin of Australia, 17-year-old Kolesnikov shaved .03 off of his own previous 100m backstroke WJR of 53.38 set at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest to notch a new mark of 53.35.
His 53.38 was set during a swim-off with China’s Li Guangyuan to get on the list for first reserve. Kolesnikov’s mark of 53.38 would have ultimately finished 7th had he qualified for the final.
Splits for Kolesnikov’s WJR-setting performance tonight in Rome: 26.34/27.01. His performance out-touched Murphy by just .02 of a second to take the win tonight, with Larkin finishing 3rd in 53.82. The trio represented the only men of the field tonight that earned sub-54 second marks.
In the uniquely-formatted Energy for Swim, Kolesnikov is representing Team Energy Standard, while Murphy is representing Team USA and Larkin is on Team Australia.
And as we know Murphy is two times olympic champion in backstokes from Rio and Larkin was (LC) world champion in 2015 and last year at Windsor (SC).
Btw this is the real WJR. Best time in history for a 18 year old or younger (kolesnikov was born in 2000).
Before this time the best times were two 53.38: kolesnikov and murphy.
Interesting how he developes physique wise . 3 types of m backers – the big brute strength guys , the slender slip thru the water types , or just so long their arms hydrofoil them across the water like oars.
Also the spot for Just Beautiful is open now that Camille has retired.
Russia is trying to topple the Americans in the backstroke.
Camille can retire to his glamorous life of photoshoots and hanging out in cafes.
No american winner in any backstroke event at Windsor or Budapest. Interesting.