FINA Live Blog : Swimming, Day 8 - Men’s 50m backstroke: Explosive Lacourt (FRA) captures gold in 24.42

Fastest of the semis in a 2013 best performance of 24.39, Camille Lacourt (FRA) confirmed his good shape and got the gold in 24.42, upgrading the silver of 2011. When in Shanghai, Lacourt was the runner-up behind Liam Tancock. In second, his teammate Jeremy Stravius touched with the same time of US Matt Grevers, in 24.54.
   
Stravius knows well what it means to be sharing a medal: two years ago, in the Chinese metropolis, he had precisely shared the gold with Lacourt in the 100m backstroke. Here in Barcelona, it is already Stravius' third podium presence after the bronze in the 100m and the gold in the 4x100m free relay. For Lacourt, this is his first award in the competition.

Grevers, champion in the 100m in the Catalan capital, adds a fourth medal to his World Championships tally after his two relay titles in 2009 in Rome. The Spanish fans will regret this joint medal for the second position, as their best representative – Aschwin Wildeboer – finished with the third best time of the final (24.58) but was naturally ranked fourth.

World Record: Liam Tancock (GBR), 24.04 – August 2, 2009 in Rome (ITA)
Championships Record: Liam Tancock (GBR), 24.04 – August 2, 2009 in Rome (ITA)
Best performance of the current season (since January 2013): Camille Lacourt (FRA), 24.39 – August 3, in Barcelona (ESP)
2003-2011 winners in this event: 2003 – Thomas Rupprath (GER, 24.80); 2005 – Aristidis Grigoriadis (GRE, 24.95); 2007 – Gerhard Zandberg (RSA, 24.98); 2009 – Liam Tancock (GBR, 24.04); 2011 – Liam Tancock (GBR, 24.50)
The best in this event (1. most victories or 2. fastest time): Liam Tancock (GBR, 2009 & 2011)
Not in the Olympic programme