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Greenbank Rocks 1:55.69 200 Back Lifetime Best In Manchester

2021 BRITISH SWIMMING INVITATION MEET

The second swimming meet to take place at Manchester Aquatic Center under lockdown got underway today, as the inaugural British Swimming Invitation kicked off its 3-day run. In the water were the likes of Duncan Scott, Adam Peaty and Georgia Davies, as this is an elite-only affair due to national pool closures amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Stealing the show on day 1 in the prelims was World Championships bronze medalist Luke Greenbank. The 23-year-old Loughborough man rocked a new lifetime best of 1:55.69 to easily take the top seed in his specialty, the men’s 200m backstroke.

Entering this competition, Greenbank’s career-quickest was represented by the 1:55.85 he put up en route to claiming the aforementioned third-place finish in Gwangju. This morning, however, splitting 56.87/58.98, Greenbank managed to slice .16 off that result to edge closer to the overall British national record. That standard remains at the 1:55.58 James Goddard established over a decade ago.

As for Greenbank, he now checks-in as the world’s 3rd fastest performer this season, inserting himself behind leader Xu Jiayu of China and Ryosuke Irie of Japan but ahead of Kosuke Hagino. Hagino recently posted his fastest time in over 6 years with a 1:55.84 just last week.

2020-2021 LCM Men 200 Back

EvgenyRUS
Rylov
04/08
1:53.23
2Ryan
Murphy
USA1:54.1507/30
3Mitch
Larkin
AUS1:54.3804/16
4Luke
Greenbank
GBR1:54.4305/22
5Bryce
Mefford
USA1:54.7906/18
View Top 27»

Greebank inches up on the all-time list to now rank as the 26th fastest man ever in this 200m back.

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samulih
3 years ago

Commentator is good one…. “Jimmy Guy”…….

Thomas Selig
3 years ago

Greeenbank 1:55:34 in finals. New British record.

Kathleen Dawson also went 27:63 in the 50 back which I think knocks a fair chunk off her PB and Scottish record.

And 51:71 for Guy in the 100 fly.

All good signs.

Last edited 3 years ago by Thomas Selig
Horninco
3 years ago

Lot of assumptions that GB will get another 46.1 anchor.

You Sada
3 years ago

Greenbank was the missing key to the medley. The UK has a good chance at Gold in Tokyo. It would be the first ever US loss. Peaty is just such a gamechanger.

He Said What?
3 years ago

If his 100 back gets better, with Peaty following, the GBR medley relay is going to be nearly impossible to beat.

AnEn
Reply to  He Said What?
3 years ago

Nope, nonensene. They are clearly slower than the US when you look at the individual times. Even if he improves by only 0.01 seconds (you didn’t specify by how much he has to improve to make them “nearly impossible to beat”), they would be “nearly impossible to beat” according to you. Improving by 0.01 seconds doesn’t really change their perspective, so either they are already “nearly impossible to beat” in your opinion or they will only be “nearly impossible to beat” if he improves by a certain amount of time (that you would have to specify).
To sum it up: Your comment is either nonsensical or redundant.

USA 4x100 Medley Gold Medel 2021
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

no where near the US relay

NornIron Swim
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

Don’t be rude because you disagree.

Unless you haven’t been told before… other people can have opinions (and here’s the kicker) they might be different from yours. Shocking right!

AnEn
Reply to  NornIron Swim
3 years ago

1) I wasn’t rude.
2) It is “difficult” to disagree with a nonsenical comment. He said that if Greenbank improves, they will be “nearly impossible to beat”. So by his logic even a 0.01 second improvement would make them “nearly impossible to beat”. It would be nonsense to say that a relay that wasn’t “nearly impossible to beat” became “nearly impossible to beat” just because one of their swimmers improved by 0.01 seconds.
3) When you look at the individual times i have no clue how anyone would seriously consider them “nearly impossible to beat” even if Greenbank improves to sub 53. The US has better individual times, better depth and a better track record at the olympics.

NornIron Swim
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

While it can be notoriously hard to gauge tone on a written comment your shortness and how aggressively you are putting forward / depending your argument is quite clearly rude. But I’m no expert and I could be wrong.

Take a step back and breath. It’s just swimming.

Put that passion into something more productive than a swimming message board.

gkjhdslks
Reply to  He Said What?
3 years ago

As an American I have to admit that you are right. An *optimistic* US relay might be

  • Murphy (52.3)
  • Some breastroker (58.7)
  • Dressel (49.2)
  • Some freestyler (46.5)
  • 3:26.7

An optimistic GBR relay might be

  • Greenbank (52.5)
  • Peaty (56.0)
  • Guy? (50.7)
  • Scott (46.4)
  • 3:25.6

To me the US is the underdog based on that

50free
Reply to  gkjhdslks
3 years ago

Pencil in dresses for a 48

Prettykitten
Reply to  50free
3 years ago

Dressel usually isn’t a great relay swimmer. I cant remember a relay where he has beaten his individual race by much. I’d say if Greenbank can touch close enough to the other backstrokers to give Peaty a good swim it will be over. Assuming Dressel is swimming his predicted 50, 100 free and 100 fly schedule I can’t see him being able to split 48 with that schedule in Guy’s wave. It won’t matter when Dean splits 44.0 though.

50free
Reply to  Prettykitten
3 years ago

He split 49low last worlds. With a bit more pre workout he can def go 48high. Also he greatly improved his short course fly in the fall.

Troyy
Reply to  50free
3 years ago

More pre-workout? He looked like he was on meth when being interviewed post race at Worlds.

Dudeman
Reply to  Troyy
3 years ago

so pre-workout then?

Andy
Reply to  gkjhdslks
3 years ago

Probably drop the breastroke split for US by.5. Wilson split 58.3 at worlds.

The unoriginal Tim
Reply to  gkjhdslks
3 years ago

I will bet good money Peaty doesn’t do 56.0 and Greenbank at 52.5 is unlikely based on past form in 100 but he may do it.

AnEn
Reply to  gkjhdslks
3 years ago

I hope that this isn’t acttually the best you could come up with and that you are just a (british) troll.
Murphy going clearly slower than his PB is an optimistic take? Especially while Greenbank improves his PB by 1 second …
I don’t even want to read the rest of your comment. I really hope that you were trying to troll, because i don’t want to believe that someone who takes the time to write a comment on this website can be so clueless about the subject he is commenting on.

Horninco
Reply to  gkjhdslks
3 years ago

Would caution everyone assuming Scott will go 46.x

He very well might. But his breathtaking 46.1 was an outlier to all past performance. Best flat is 47.8 and best relay other than that was 46.1? Didn’t check commonwealth relay results

I would say US can reasonably go 52/58/49/47 which is a WR by over a second. That’s pretty crazy so saying GB is almost a second past that? I mean, H/T if so but I’m betting both teams are around 3:26.5-3:27

Last edited 3 years ago by Horninco
Horninco
Reply to  Horninco
3 years ago

Meant other than 46.1 was 47.1

The unoriginal Tim
3 years ago

Great swim. He looks to be continuing his upward trajectory. Good for him individually and the GBR medley relay.

Ghost
Reply to  The unoriginal Tim
3 years ago

Hopefully for GBR that his 100 improves too (which would make their relay scary)

AnEn
Reply to  Ghost
3 years ago

Not sure how it would make their relay scary? No matter what he does, GB will be favorite for silver, not more and not less.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

If he becomes a 52 mid backstroker, GB is the heavy favorite. I don’t understand why you are downplaying Greenbank and GB so much.

Rafael
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

Would not even need to be a 52 mid, become a 53 flat would be enough

AnEn
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

1) Even then they wouldn’t the (heavy) favorite. Just add up the individual times and you will see.
2) He has never given any indication that he can go sub 53.
3) I still haven’t heard a reason why a 200 back PB is proof that he has gotten better in the 100 back.

John
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

You ain’t got a clue

AnEn
Reply to  John
3 years ago

Far more than you obviously, otherwise you would have given a reason why i am wrong instead of just spamming.

Swimmer
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

You are a DELIGHT

AnEn
Reply to  The unoriginal Tim
3 years ago

What does that swim have to do with the british medley relay? Did they change it into a 4 x 200 medley relay?

Jack
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

Judging by his comments in this thread i think this guy missed the 2019 world champs, i figured it out guys.

Dee
Reply to  Jack
3 years ago

If he’s who I think he is, he used to post under a different name and take swipes left, right & centre. Not worth acknowledging.

Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

Right as usual Dee – they’re a churlish contrarian just looking for attention

AnEn
Reply to  Jack
3 years ago

Nope, just not trying to judge medal chances simply based on results. I guess you don’t really follow swimming and therefore looking at the most recent results is your only way of judging future medal chances. You might want to look at the actual times and then maybe you can tell me if you seriously think that 1:55 will be enough to medal in Tokyo.

He Said What?
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

Yawn. Whatever.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

“just not trying to judge medal chances simply based on results”

LOL this is one of the silliest things I’ve ever read.

If we are looking at actual times instead of recent results as you say, Irie would be the big favorite in the 200 back but he’s not. You have to heavily consider recent results or you get an incomplete picture.

AnEn
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

1) First you say that Irie isn’t a favorite despite his recent results (i agree with that), but then you say “You have to heavily consider recent results or you get an incomplete picture.” -> What exactly is your point?
2) How the hell would Irie be the favorite according to my approach, when there have been multiple guys in recent years who have been much faster? This is the complete opposite of what i said. According to my approach Irie shouldn’t be considered the favorite because his time isn’t very impressive.
3) I never specified what i mean with “recent” results. It would have been smarter if you first would have asked me to clarify, so that… Read more »

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

OK. Sorry for upsetting you :/

AnEn
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

For some reason i don’t believe that you are sorry, but if you are indeed sorry, you should take some time checking your reasoning before writing comments in the future.

Corn Pop
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

I for one love your Germanic presentation of thought . A language with a VERB predominance brings out action & reasoning . You are the Hegel of SwimSwam .

Dudeman
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

How are you so confident and yet so wrong?

AnEn
Reply to  Dudeman
3 years ago

a) Sorry for trying to give some perspective to british fanboys.
b) Still haven’t heard a reason why a good 200 back swims means that he has gotten better in the 100 back.
c) Even if he would improve in the 100 back, i still don’t see why that would make the british relay scary when they are at least a second slower than the US when you look at the individual times.

He Said What?
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

At first you were ignorant. Now you’re just funny.

AnEn
Reply to  He Said What?
3 years ago

Thanks! Reading your other comments, i have no problem believing that my comments appear that way to you. I would have been surprised if you would have given any indication that you were actually able to understand my comments (since i try not to dumb them down).

Dudeman
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

Because the GB team literally beat the US at 2019 Worlds. Sure the individual times added up the US would win by a lot but that’s not what happens in reality. If Murphy is off and Greenback even goes 53 low then the relay all of a sudden becomes much closer. Peaty will gain back at least 1.5 on any breaststroke swimmer in the US which minimizes Dressel’s impact on the fly and Duncan Scott can hold his own against any US freestyler that isn’t Dressel (who will most likely swim fly).

Not a fanboy but it’s just ignorant to claim that the GB team isn’t a real threat against the US in that relay

Jack
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

Swimswam comments, notorious for being british fanboys.

Greenbank has also PB in his 100 and 200 back SC since 2019 and has now pbd in his 200 LC. His results short course suggest he has got faster. His result this morning was also a heat swim. There is every reason that he will probably pb in the 100 before Tokyo, and regardless of that, being the world champion in the event makes them reasonable favourites. If you cant win on the day it doesn’t matter what your pbs are. Im not saying the US can’t win since they are historically dominant at the relay but racing at big meets isnt for times its for the win.

Look at Simone Manual,… Read more »

Dee
3 years ago

Great morning swim – podium contender in Tokyo.

AnEn
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

Nope, but has a good chance of making the final.

Mclovin
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

He was at the podium at 2019 world champs and keeps getting better. Why shouldnt he be a medal contener??

Last edited 3 years ago by Mclovin
AnEn
Reply to  Mclovin
3 years ago

Because Rylov, Murphy and Xu all have been clearly faster than him in the last couple of years. I would also favor Larkin, Kolesnikov, Irie and possibly Katz/Hagino over him. Would be extremely surprised if you wouldn’t have to go sub 1:54 to medal at the olympics and Greenbank has never gotten close to that time.

John
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

Hahahaha he’s just gone 1.55.3 you nonce

AnEn
Reply to  John
3 years ago

Ok … ? So is your problem that you can’t read or that you can’t understand simple sentences? My whole argument was based on the assumption that it will take sub 1:54 to medal in Tokyo. How exactly does him going 1:55.3 therefore change anything?
Let me clarify for you: 1:55.3 isn’t sub 1:54 (in case that is the part you had trouble with)

Dudeman
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

Except he was faster than Xu in 2019, which qualifies as “the last couple of years”. Xu swims a very good 200 back anywhere other than the major competition of the year

AnEn
Reply to  Dudeman
3 years ago

1) According to this website Xu swam 1:55.2 in April 2019, which would mean that he was faster than Greenbank has ever been and that wasn’t even his PB.
2) Xu has been sub 1:54 before, so no contradiction to what i said.
3) “Last couple of years” doesn’t necessarily have to mean last 2 years.
4) Personally i think that most swimmers weren’t at their best long course since the last worlds (thanks to the pandemic), so it would be weird to use times that were put up during that time to rank one athlete ahead of the other when it comes to their medal chances at the olympics.

Troyy
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

Couple always means 2.

Dudeman
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

The 2019 worlds happened before the pandemic so that doesn’t account for anything especially since all the top swimmers were at their best (hence the numerous world records that were broken). Also Xu has been 1:53 but his last 2 world champs appearances haven’t been anywhere near that, which is why he was nowhere near the podium in 2017 or 2019. He hasn’t shown the ability to swim the 200 at his best in major competitions so it doesn’t matter what he does in April when he’s 2 seconds slower in July

Dudeman
Reply to  AnEn
3 years ago

Ahh yes, a recent world champ podium finisher has no chance of being a podium contender

Rafael
Reply to  Dudeman
3 years ago

200 back
Gold Favorite: Rylov
Silver Favorite: Murphy
Bronze: Open between Hagino, Irie, Greenbank, Xu, even Kolesnikov, we might see some surprise by Casas (I think he will qualify instead of Katz)

Remember Xu went 1:53:99 at 2018, Larkin went 1:55 flat recently, Kolesnikov went 1:55 flat already and he seems to be coming back also..

Last edited 3 years ago by Rafael
samulih
Reply to  Rafael
3 years ago

you say 1:55 is not contender but then drop Cases like some kind of miracle….. boys you need to hone your argumentation skills with this bs. Nope, cheeezzzzz…..

AnEn
Reply to  samulih
3 years ago

The number of upvotes this comment has is really surprising to me. I can’t see any sign that Rafael claims that “1:55 is not contender”. Maybe he orginally wrote that and then edited it, but even in that case your comment shouldn’t have gotten any upvotes after his edit (but it did).

Why are people upvoting a statement that is factually wrong (“you say 1:55 is not contender”)?

KatyJ
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

Always had faith in this lad. Swam so well as a youth. He will shine for sure

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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