World Record: Aaron Peirsol (USA), 51.94 – July 8, 2009 in Indianapolis (USA)
Championships Record: Junya Koga (JPN), 52.26 – July 28, 2009 in Rome (ITA)
Best performance of the current season (since January 2013): Matt Grevers (USA), 52.93 – July 30, in Barcelona (ESP)
2003-2011 winners in this event: 2003 – Aaron Peirsol (USA, 53.61); 2005 – Aaron Peirsol (USA, 53.62); 2007 – Aaron Peirsol (USA, 52.98); 2009 – Junya Koga (JPN, 52.26); 2011 – Camille Lacourt and Jeremy Stravius (FRA, 52.76)
The best in this event (1. most victories or 2. fastest time): Aaron Peirsol (USA, 2003, 2005 & 2007)
2012 Olympic podium: 1. Matt Grevers (USA, 52.16), 2. Nick Thoman (USA, 52.92), 3. Ryosuke Irie (JPN, 52.97)
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QUOTES:
Gold medal winner: Matt Grevers (USA)
"It's been a great day for the USA team, obviously with Katie Ledecky destroying the World Record, it was very motivational, it gave us this little adrenalin rush just before the race."
"We have a great history in backstroke so we do take ownership in that. The French have been challenging us for a long time so it's good to get one title back, defend our titles and go 1-2."
"It is my ultimate goal to break this World Record. After semis, I actually thought I might have a chance but I got a little aggressive in this race. It's hard to produce those times even in my head but I'm as hungry as ever and for the next couple of years that World Record will be in my mind."
Silver medal winner: David Plummer (USA)
"It's always good to race Matt [Grevers], we've been racing together since high school."
Bronze medal winner: Jeremy Stravius (FRA)
"I'm very happy about this medal, my goal was to win at least an individual medal since I was absent from the Olympics last year. I wanted to show that I was among the world's best this year."
"I felt no pressure going into this race, I knew it was not going to be really fast, it was going to be about the one who touch first."