Mitch Larkin
A master of the backstroke who dominated the 2015 World Championships, becoming the first man in decades to win both the 100m and 200m titles.
Born 1993 (age 33)·Australian swimmer·Birthday: July 9·Millennials
Biography
Mitch Larkin announced himself as a force in swimming not with a single Olympic splash, but with a sustained wave of technical mastery. The Brisbane-born swimmer, known for his impeccable underwater dolphin kicks and smooth stroke, reached his zenith at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan. There, he achieved a historic double, claiming gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke—a feat no man had accomplished at the Worlds since 1998. This period marked his reign as the world's premier backstroker. While Olympic gold remained elusive—he collected silver and bronze in Rio—his consistency was remarkable. He adapted to the changing landscape of professional swimming, competing through multiple Olympic cycles and becoming a mainstay of the International Swimming League. Larkin's career is a testament to precision and longevity in a sport often defined by fleeting moments.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mitch was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mitch Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Mitch's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 100m and 200m backstroke double at the 2015 FINA World Championships, a first for a male swimmer in 17 years.
- Silver medalist in the 200m backstroke at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
- Holds the former world record in the short course 200m backstroke (set in 2015).
- Multiple-time Commonwealth Games champion, winning gold for Australia in 2014 and 2018.
Did You Know?
He is a trained pianist and has said music helps him focus before races.
He studied a Bachelor of Business at the Queensland University of Technology alongside his swimming career.
He was coached by Michael Bohl at the St Peters Western club, the same coach who guided fellow Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus.
He won a total of seven medals (3 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze) across the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“The wall is where the race is won or lost.”
