Mitch Larkin became the first Australian to break a world record in six years with his sizzling swim in the men’s 200-meter backstroke at the 2015 Australian Short Course Championships.
Swimming Australia has provided the following uncut video of the amazing swim.
Swimming Australia 200 Back World Record Report:
It took only 1:45.63 for Mitch Larkin to become Swimming Australia’s first individual world record holder in six years at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre tonight.
The 22-year-old from Brisbane unleashed a dream swim in the 200m backstroke on a record breaking night three at the Hancock Prospecting Australian Short Course Championships which saw one World, two Australian, two Commonwealth and five Australian All-Comers records fall.
Many swimming pundits were quick to describe the night as a return to the glory days.
Larkin capped off what he described as “an amazing 12 months” with his first world record to go alongside his three world championships and a whirlwind record-breaking World Cup series.
He is now without a doubt the hottest backstroker in the world – with number one world rankings in both the 100 and 200m long course and 100 and 200m short course and a swag of records to boot.
Larkin was at his silky smooth best through the first 50 metres in 24.46 and when he turned in 51.35 at the 100m mark the world record of 1:46.11 set by Russia’s Arkady Vyatchanin in the “supersuit” year of 2009 was very much under fire.
He continued to open up a commanding lead with superb underwater skills on every turn to split 1:18.42, coming home over the final 50m in 27.21.
The last world record set by an Australian was by Christian Sprenger in the 200m breaststroke at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome.
The last world records set in Australia were back in 2008 to Eamon Sullivan, Libby Trickett and Stephanie Rice at the Olympic trials, all at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre – dubbed the “Pool of Dreams” through the 1999 Pan Pacs and 2000 Olympics and 2004 and 2008 Olympic Trials.
The very much down-to-earth, considered Larkin was excited with his swim but still measured in his thoughtful answers with the media straight after his swim.
“The plan is always to improve,” said Larkin, “This morning was cruisey and I said I would be happy with a 1:46 really, really low and if things went really well a 1:45.
“I didn’t think I was that quick tonight; some of my turns were a little bit out and I didn’t really hit all of them but I’m really happy with that.
“You look back on the year and you think did that really happen in six months? It’s just amazing.
“I asked my coach Michael Bohl what have I done differently? How am I swimming that fast now?
“He attributes that to a bit of confidence and I got that from Kazan at the World Championships.
“It’s something you always dream of and I’m in a bit of shock to be honest. To finally realise that I’ve done it.
“It is short course and I would really like a long course world record but there are steps to that and it’s a major goal.
“It’s incredible, hopefully the ball keeps rolling and on to Rio and maybe a couple of years after that as well.”
Uncut video?? there were maybe 3 turns you actually saw in that video it was so cut up… but an amazing swim regardless!
Good point. I meant it to mean that it was not interwoven with the interview like the previous video. Also, we left in all of the celebration Swimming Australia provided.
Karlo Grabić
Jack Jack Utting Dalton Yallop
OMFG, Jack go on son ??
Second place wasn’t even close!
Nicholas Lim
damn
Sophie Wotherspoon
Jyah Seymour-Poad
Luis Rapmírez Márquez
And by “uncut” you mean “extremely cut”….Got it!!
Fantastic swim!
Brock Bonetti
Troy Argent