At the turn, Matt Grevers of Team USA was out of the lead in the men's 100m backstroke final of the 2012 Olympics. Then Grevers left the field in his wake on the way to the U.S.'s second gold medal of Tuesday in the pool and a new Olympic record.
Grevers exploded off the wall and finished with a time of 1:52.16, the new Olympic standard in the event. American Nick Thorman (1:52.92) won a tight race for second, out-touching Japan's Ryosuke Irie (1:52.97) for silver, and giving the U.S. its first 1-2 finish of the London Olympics.
Grevers' massive 6'8" frame helped him use up a staggering amount of water on his turn, and added another gold to a event that Americans have dominated for decades, winning the last five Olympic golds in it.
Briton Liam Tancock failed to find the podium, finishing fifth.
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