Mitch Larkin

Mitch Larkin
Larkin in 2016, at the Santa Clara Arena Grand Prix
Personal information
Full nameMitchell James Larkin
Nickname"Mitch" "Larkinator"
National teamAustralia
Born (1993-07-09) 9 July 1993 (age 31)
Nambour, Queensland, Australia
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Weight75 kg (165 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke, medley
ClubCali Condors[1]
Chandler
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Australia
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 200 m backstroke
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 4×100 m medley
World Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place 2015 Kazan 100 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 2015 Kazan 200 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 2019 Gwangju 4×100 m mixed medley
Silver medal – second place 2015 Kazan 4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 2017 Budapest 4×100 m mixed medley
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Gwangju 100 m backstroke
World Championships (SC)
Gold medal – first place 2014 Doha 100 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 2016 Windsor 100 m backstroke
Silver medal – second place 2016 Windsor 4×100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Doha 200 m backstroke
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Windsor 4×200 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Hangzhou 200 m backstroke
Pan Pacific Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Tokyo 4×100 m mixed medley
Silver medal – second place 2018 Tokyo 200 m medley
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Gold Coast 200 m backstroke
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Gold Coast 4×100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Tokyo 100 m backstroke
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Tokyo 4×100 m medley
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Glasgow 200 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast 50 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast 100 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast 200 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast 200 m medley
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast 4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place 2022 Birmingham 4×100 m mixed medley
Silver medal – second place 2014 Glasgow 100 m backstroke
Silver medal – second place 2014 Glasgow 50 m backstroke
Silver medal – second place 2014 Glasgow 4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 2022 Birmingham 4×100 m medley
Oceanian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Apia 200 m medley
Gold medal – first place 2010 Apia 400 m medley
Silver medal – second place 2010 Apia 200 m backstroke

Mitchell James Larkin (born 9 July 1993) is an Australian former competitive swimmer who specialises in backstroke events. He represented the Cali Condors as part of the International Swimming League. Larkin competed for Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics,[3] 2016 Summer Olympics[4] and the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Career

2014

Larkin won a gold medal in the 200 meter backstroke and a silver medal in both the 50 meter and 100 meter backstroke at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

2015

He won two gold in the 100 meter and 200 meter backstroke at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia.

His personal best in long course events are 52.11 for the 100 meter backstroke[5] and 1:53.17 for the 200 meter backstroke,[6] both set at the Dubai world cup in November 2015.

In November 2015, Larkin broke the short course world record in the 200 meter backstroke, lowering it to 1:45.63.[7]

2016

At the 2016 Summer Olympics swimming championships, Larkin represented Australia in the 100 metre and 200 metre backstroke and the 4 x 100 meter medley relay.[8] In the 100 metre backstroke, Larkin was the third fastest in the heats with a time of 53.04 and third fastest out of the two second semi-final heats with a time of 52.70.

Despite only being three hundredths slower than his gold medal-winning time at the 2015 world championships, he missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the final with a time of 52.43.

Larkin set a record as the first swimmer to win every backstroke event and also the most gold medals for a swimmer at a single Commonwealth Games event. Five gold medals included 50 meter, 100 meter and 200 meter backstroke, as well as the 200 meter Individual Medley and 4 x 100 meter Medley.[9]

International Swimming League

In 2019 he was a member of the inaugural International Swimming League representing the Cali Condors, who finished third place in the final match in Las Vegas, Nevada in December. Larkin was one of the top point scorers at each match for the Condors swimming backstroke, IM, and relays.[10]

World records

Short course metres

No. Event Time Meet Location Date Status Ref
1 200 m backstroke 1:45.63 Australian Championships (25m) Sydney, Australia 27 November 2015 Current [11]
Legend: OC – Oceanian record; NR – Australian record;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; tt – time trial

See also

References

  1. ^ Keith, Braden (9 December 2019). "Cali Condors Unveil Roster for 2019 International Swimming League Finale". SwimSwam.
  2. ^ "Mitchell Larkin". swimming.org.au. Swimming Australia. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Mitch Larkin". Official site of the London 2012 Olympic Games. London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Mitch Larkin". Official Site of the 2016 Australian Olympic Team. Australian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  5. ^ Lord, Craig (6 November 2015). "Mitch Larkin Refuses 2nd Best on the Clock: 52.11 Back Blast Seals Status at World No1". Swimvortex. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  6. ^ Lord, Craig (7 November 2015). "Mitch Larkin Rattles 1:53 Barrier & The Cage of an American Olympic Tradition". Swimvortex. Archived from the original on 12 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  7. ^ Lord, Craig (27 November 2015). "Dolphin Mitch Larkin Leaps To 1:45.6 WR 200 Back Not Far Off Free Pace of the Albatross". Swimvortex. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  8. ^ "2016 Australian Olympic Swimming Team selected". Australian Olympic Committee. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  9. ^ Greenwood, Emma (11 April 2018). "Mitch Larkin has revealed how he was spurred on to five gold medals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  10. ^ Keith, Braden (9 December 2019). "international-swimming-league-finale-in-las-vegas-day-two-live-recap". SwimSwam.
  11. ^ "Mitch Larkin breaks 1:46 to set 200 back world record". Swimming World. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
Records
Preceded by Men's 200-metre backstroke
world record holder (short course)
27 November 2015 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Awards
Preceded by Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year
2015 		Succeeded by
Kosuke Hagino
Preceded by FINA Swimmer of the Year
2015 		Succeeded by