Ryan Murphy secures world's fastest time this year with 200m backstroke win at US Olympic trials. GETTY IMAGES

Ryan Murphy claimed the fastest time globally this year by winning the 200m backstroke at the US Olympic swimming trials on Thursday, positioning himself for a potential 100m-200m backstroke double at the Paris Olympics.

Murphy, 28, held off a strong challenge from 19-year-old Keaton Jones, finishing in 1:54.33, while Jones clocked 1:54.61. This victory followed Murphy's earlier win in the 100m backstroke, where he also outpaced his rivals.

Regan Smith and Kate Douglass secured their spots for Paris with their second wins of the week at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. Murphy, who clinched double backstroke gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 but settled for silver and bronze in Tokyo, achieved a milestone by becoming the first man to sweep the 100m and 200m backstrokes in three consecutive US Olympic trials.

This accomplishment marks a historic moment in a nation with a rich swimming legacy that includes backstroke legends like Lenny Krayzelburg and Aaron Peirsol. Murphy said, "There have been a lot of guys who came before me. I had posters of them on my wall. I'm never going to see myself as better than them, and there's definitely more work to do, but I'll cherish this win and be happy about it."

Smith, who set a world record in the 100m backstroke final, added to her Paris schedule with a 200m butterfly victory in 2:05.70. She trailed Alex Shackell at the final turn but surged ahead to secure first place. Later, Smith topped the qualifiers in the 200m backstroke semi-finals, preparing for a busy evening.


Ryan Murphy claimed the fastest time globally this year by winning the 200m backstroke in the US Olympic swimming trials. GETTY IMAGES
Ryan Murphy claimed the fastest time globally this year by winning the 200m backstroke in the US Olympic swimming trials. GETTY IMAGES



Shackell's Olympic debut will be a family affair; her brother Aaron secured his Olympic spot by winning the 400m freestyle, and their father, Nick Shackell, swam for Great Britain in the 1996 Olympics. Douglass set a trials record of 2:19.46 to win the 200m breaststroke, leading wire-to-wire following her triumph in the 100m freestyle.

"I'm really pleased with both of those wins I've achieved so far," Douglass commented. She admitted feeling a bit unnerved upon arriving at the trials and seeing a giant poster of herself on the stadium's front, where crowds during finals sessions exceed 20,000. "It was intimidating at first," she said. "I felt the pressure after seeing that, but I think I've handled it well, and the crowd has really motivated me to achieve my goals for the meet."

In the 100m breaststroke event, Lilly King, who emerged victorious, and Alex Walsh were locked in a tight battle for second place. King surged ahead in the final meters, overtaking Walsh to secure second with a time of 2:21.93. The night held more excitement for King, as her boyfriend proposed to her moments after the race.


Lilly King also came up trumps in the event as she booked her place at Paris 2024. GETTY IMAGES
Lilly King also came up trumps in the event as she booked her place at Paris 2024. GETTY IMAGES


Meanwhile, Caeleb Dressel, unable to defend his 100m freestyle title after finishing third on Wednesday, rebounded strongly with the second-fastest time in the 50m freestyle semi-finals. Chris Guiliano, winner of the 100m freestyle event, posted the fastest time of 21.59 seconds. 

Dressel, a five-time gold medalist at the Tokyo Games, won his semi-final in 21.61 seconds, aiming to reclaim his top position in the sport after taking a break in 2022. A thrilling battle ensued for the last spot in the final, with Adam Chaney and Jonny Kulow tying for the eighth-fastest time in the semi-finals.

In the first swim-off, both clocked 21.79 seconds, slightly faster than their previous times. Another swim-off followed, resulting in Chaney securing the final berth with a time of 21.81 seconds, while Kulow finished in 21.99 seconds.