The United States’ hopes for extending its long Olympic medal streak in the men’s 200-meter backstroke rest on the shoulders of an ice swimmer.
Keaton Jones, a 19-year-old Olympic rookie, is the last American standing in an event where the U.S. has won at least one medal in every Summer Games since 1992. Ryan Murphy shockingly missed qualifying for finals in the event Wednesday night, ending his bid to become the first swimmer to medal in both the 100 and 200 backs in three straight Olympics. It was another blow to the U.S. swimming program, which has had a shaky Paris Olympics, and it means that Jones is the next man up Thursday night for what has been the best backstroking nation on the planet.
