Swimming:Irish swimmer Barry Murphy won the gold medal in the final of the 100m breaststroke at the Long Course Indianapolis Grand Prix last night.
It was a great swim representing his university club, Wolverine Michigan, after touching the wall in a time of 1:00.77 seconds to break the Irish senior record by almost one second.
Murphy’s time at the University of Indiana Natatorium was also inside the required international qualifying standard (1:00.79) as he eyes a place at the London 2012 Olympics.
However the Swim Ireland/Irish Sports Council ‘A’ qualifying standard for Irish swimmers is not likely to begin until the World Championships in Shanghai, China (July 24th-31st) which Murphy has now qualified for and will be part of the Ireland squad.
It means the 25-year-old's winning time will not count towards Olympic qualification but his performance bodes well for the season and he will hope to repeat the performance when the Irish qualification period begins.
Unofficially Murphy’s time in Indianapolis was the third fastest of the year. In winning gold, the Dubliner also beat Japanese Olympic champion Kosuke Katijima, who finished fourth, while American record holder Mark Gangloff had to settle for bronze.
Michael Phelps, record 14-time Olympic gold medal winner, was also in action and swam the fastest times this year in the freestyle and butterfly events.
The 25-year-old, who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, won the 200m freestyle in 1:46.27 and the 100m butterfly in 51.75.
“I’m in a lot better shape than I was a month and a half ago,” said Phelps. “I’m a lot more consistent. It’s making gradual steps back to where I should be.”
Phelps is scheduled to swim in today’s 200m butterfly, while Murphy will line out in the 50m freestyle semi-finals. Andrew Bree and Fiona Doyle will also be in action in their respective 200m breaststroke events.
Heats commence from 2pm Irish time and finals get under way from 11pm.