Race ‘probably not clean,’ U.S. swimmer suggests
Ryan Murphy lost the second of his Rio backstroke titles to Russian Evgeny Rylov at the 2020 Olympics on Friday — and the U.S. swimmer then suggested doping played a part in it, as events took an acrimonious turn at the Tokyo pool.
Another morning of memorable racing saw Tatjana Schoenmaker win the women's 200-metre breaststroke in a world record 2:18.95 to deliver South Africa's first gold of the Games, while China won its first men's swimming gold in Tokyo, Wang Shun coming home first in the 200-metre medley.
There was no easing up from Australia's gold medal-greedy swimmers, with Emma Mckeon winning the women's 100-metre freestyle for her country's sixth Olympic title in the pool.
But the celebratory mood at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre changed after Murphy relinquished the 200-metre backstroke crown, as Rylov, who also won the 100, touched first in an Olympic record.
“It is a huge mental drain on me to go throughout the year, that I am swimming in a race that's probably not clean and that is what it is,” Murphy said in the post-race “mixed zone” after finishing second to the Russian, with Britain's Luke Greenbank taking bronze.
At a later news conference, the American, who took bronze in the 100-metre, backed away from any suggestion his rivals had cheated.
“I need to be clear, I've never made ... my intention is not to make any allegations here. Like, congratulations to Luke and Evgeny. They did an incredible job, they're both very talented swimmers,” he said.
“At the end of the day ... I do believe it (doping) is still big in swimming and it is what it is.”
The exchanges cast a cloud over what had been another excellent session, which began with Africa's second gold medal of the Games.
Schoenmaker, who claimed silver in the 100-metre breaststroke on Tuesday, finished 0.97 seconds ahead of American Lilly King, with Annie Lazor of the U.S. in third.
After winning the 200-metre medley for China, Wang said he had taken a more focused approach in Tokyo.
“I was just a kid at the London Olympics and it was easier, more of a fun feeling. When I was in Rio I wanted to compete with my teammates and also get a medal. This time I just wanted to focus on myself.”