U.S. Olympic Trials: Hunter Armstrong Survives Slip to Get Into 100 Back Final

Jack Aikins, left, and Hunter Armstrong; Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Olympic Trials: Hunter Armstrong Survives Slip to Get Into 100 Back Final

The wry grin from Hunter Armstrong said it all. The semiffinalists in the men’s 100 backstroke departed the wall Sunday night at U.S. Olympic Trials. Armstrong was not among them.

A slip off the wall left the gold medalist in the medley relay and reigning world champion dead last in the second semifinal heat, barely in touch with the lead pack’s feet as they approached the wall.

But the one they call the Magic Man pulled a little sleight of hand to survive.

Armstrong rallied to finish second in his head and fourth overall in 53.57, among the eight swimmers moving on to Monday’s final.

“The camera they put on the block was right where I wanted to put my hand, so I pushed it a little bit,” Armstrong said of the slip, which he called his first on a start like that. “But as soon as I took my mark, the wedge moved. I just ditched the underwater, came up and I hauled.”

Ryan Murphy set the pace in the first prelims heat in 52.65. Adam Chaney was second in the heat and second overall in 53.08.

Armstrong managed to overtake everyone in his heat save for Jack Aikins, who went 53.23.

“I typically don’t think while I’m in the water,” Armstrong said. “I think the minute you become conscious when you’re swimming is when you slow down. But the very first thing to go through my mind when I immediately just backflopped into the water was, how can I recover from this, because I need another shot tomorrow.”

Tommy Janton got a spot in the final in fifth along with Jack Wilkening. Justin Ress was seventh and Will Modglin eighth, at the expense of Shaine Casas in 54.08.

Armstrong was the top seed in prelims Sunday morning, the only swimmer to break 53 seconds in 52.85. Murphy was second, followed by Aikins and Chaney under 53.5. Eight swimmers broke 54 seconds.

Armstrong has had all manner of drama at international meets, including winning silver at Worlds in the 50 in 2022 only to see it upgraded to gold when teammate Justin Ress was disqualified and then Ress get the gold back. At 23, Armstrong is a poised beyond his years, and this is another test of that.

“It’s not just international meets but it’s every single time in practice,” he said. “Every single time in practice, every meet, every time I get behind the blocks, we’re preparing for things that could happen.”

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JohnnyTwobad

9 days ago

Either Armstrong and Aikins traded swim caps or your photo caption is wrong.

It says “Jack Aikins, left, and Hunter Armstrong [right”] while clearly the names in the caps indicated. differently.