MIAMI — Missy Franklin won the 100m backstroke at the Orlando Pro Swim Friday in 59.80sec — a time that delighted the four-time Olympic gold medalist who had been frustrated with her times early in the build up to the Rio Games. “I am so happy — I can’t even tell you,” Franklin beamed.
Franklin is now one of five women to break one minute this season, improving on her previous 2016 best of 1:00.03 at a meeting in Austin in January.
Franklin will be hoping it’s a sign of things to come, with the ultra-competitive US Olympic trials looming in late June and the Rio Games coming up in August.
Russian Yuliya Efimova in the women’s 200m breaststroke and American Nathan Adrian in the men’s 50m freestyle notched impressive wins.
Efimova won the 200m in 2:21.41, second-fastest time in the world this year behind the 2:20.04 that Japan’s Rie Kaneto clocked at the Aquatic Super Series in Australia.
Melanie Margalis was a well-beaten second in 2:25.46 with Hilda Luthersdottir third in 2:26.42.
Adrian won the 50m free in 21.70sec, the second-fastest time in the world this year behind Florent Manaudou’s 21.57 posted in Amiens.
American Ryan Murphy won the men’s 100m backstroke in a quick 53.47, with
Superstar Michael Phelps was fourth in 54.42 in an event that wasn’t a part of his usual repertoire when he was amassing 18 Olympic gold medals.
Phelps also raced in the 200m breaststroke heats Friday, but failed to qualify.
