US Wins 2 Golds in Backstroke

Missy Franklin wins women's race as Matt Grevers sets record

By Newser Editors and Wire Services

Posted Jul 30, 2012 2:35 PM CDT
Updated Jul 30, 2012 3:08 PM CDT

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US' Missy Franklin Wins 100 Backstroke — United States' Missy Franklin competes in the women's 100 meter backstroke semifinal at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (Daniel Ochoa De Olza)

American teenager Missy Franklin won the women's 100-meter backstroke at the London Olympics today. Franklin won the two-lap race in 58.33 seconds for her first Olympic gold and second medal after taking bronze in the 4x100 freestyle relay. Emily Seebohm of Australia touched in 58.68 to take the silver medal and Aya Terakawa of Japan finished in 58.83 to take bronze. Franklin swam little more than 10 minutes after taking the eighth and final qualifying spot in the 200 freestyle semifinals. But that wasn't the only good news for US swimming:

American Matt Grevers set an Olympic record to win the men's 100-meter backstroke today. Grevers finished in 52.16 seconds, 0.38 ahead of the previous mark set by fellow American Aaron Peirsol at the 2008 Beijing Games. Nick Thoman, another American, was second in 52.92, and Ryosuke Irie of Japan was third in 52.97.

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