Mitch Larkin

Mitchell James Larkin (born 9 July 1993) is an Australian competitive swimmer who specialises in backstroke events. He currently represents the Cali Condors which is 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.

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 30)
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

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.EventTimeMeetLocationDateStatusRef
1200 m backstroke1:45.63Australian Championships (25m)Sydney, Australia27 November 2015Current[11]
Legend: OCOceanian record; NRAustralian 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

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