The men’s 100 meter backstroke is an event the United States has traditionally dominated, and entering Monday’s final Americans had won gold in each of the five prior Olympic races. That streak was extended to six, as Ryan Murphy took the gold medal with a time of 51.97 seconds. Murphy was one of two Americans to medal in the race, with David Plummer taking the bronze.
China’s Xu Jiayu took the silver with a time of 52.31, thus ending a streak of two straight Olympic finals in the event in which the United States finished 1-2.
The United States has won at least two medals in the 100 back 12 times since it was first run in 1912.