American male backstroke swimmers have swept the 100m and 200m races in the Olympics since 1996. After unseating both 2012 Olympic champs at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Ryan Murphy grabbed hold of the legacy and didn’t let go once landing in Rio. He topped the podium and set an Olympic record in the 100m backstroke but he was only halfway done, before again beating the field in the 200m backstroke to become the first swimmer since 2004 to win both races. There was still more, with Murphy setting a new world record in the 100m backstroke as lead-off for the gold medal winning 400m medley relay that was the final Olympic race for Michael Phelps. See more Rio Moments at usaswimming.org/ReCelebrateRioMoments
