“It was a complete shock!”: Hunter Armstrong smashes 50m Backstroke World Record at blistering pace
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Hunter Armstrong
Hunter Armstrong created history in style as he smashed the 50m backstroke World Record at the American International Trials. The meet is selecting the U.S. team that will compete at this summer’s world championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Armstrong set a blistering fast time of 23.71s in the non-Olympic event while competing on Thursday at Greensboro, North Carolina. The World Championships will now be held in 2023, after being postponed twice due to Coronavirus. The 21-year-old Armstrong, won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics by swimming the backstroke leg in the prelims of the 4×100 medley relay.
Hunter Armstrong shatters backstroke World Record previously held by Russian Kolesnikov
Hunter “He is a special athlete”: 15-year-old prodigy Thomas Heilman trailing second only to Michael PhelpsArmstrong himself was stunned by his time in the 50m backstroke event, which beat the mark of 23.80s set by Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov in 2021.
“It was a complete shock,” he said. “My best time before this was a 25.50 and in prelims I was able to throw down a 24.00 and that gave me hope, but you know Kolesnikov is one of the fastest backstrokers and freestylers in the world. To be up there with him is just incredible.”
Also read: “He is a special athlete”: 15-year-old prodigy Thomas Heilman trailing second only to Michael Phelps
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Saivee Phatak
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