Brisbane swimmer Mitch Larkin qualifies second fastest for Rio Olympics 200m backstroke final

BRISBANE swimmer Mitch Larkin has turned in a strong swim to qualify second fastest for the 200m backstroke final tomorrow.

Mitch Larkin during his men's 200m backstroke heat in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: TOM PENNINGTON/GETTY IMAGES

BRISBANE’S Mitch Larkin will go for gold in the 200m backstroke final tomorrow after qualifying second fastest in the semi finals.

Russia’s Evgeny Rylov (1.54:45) stormed home to beat Larkin (1:54:73) at the end but the St Peter’s Western Swim Club member finished just 0.28 seconds behind him after leading early.

It was a strong comeback from the 23-year-old who missed out on a medal in the 100m backstroke final on Tuesday by just three hundredths of a second.

“Tonight was sort of hitting out a good pace,” the former John Paul College student told a reporter for Channel 7’s Olympic coverage after his race.

“I’ve got a little bit of a sting but hopefully there’s more (tomorrow).

“Being a 200m I try to stay off my legs and then bring that in (tomorrow).

“I did (shed a tear after the 100m backstroke final). I had a realisation that it’s probably going to be another four years before I have a good crack at the 100m.

“You’ve got to move on and prepare for the next one and I put it behind me and had a good warm-up, hit my 200m pace pretty comfortably and as soon as that starts happening, you sort of forget the 100m.”

The men’s 200m backstroke final will take place at 11.26am AEST tomorrow.