Armstrong became the first American to hold the record since Randall Bal set it in 2008, which lasted a little less than a year. Armstrong’s rapid improvement to world record status has come as a surprise to many people in the swimming universe.

“It was a complete shock,” Armstrong said to reporters after the race. “My best time before this was a 25.50 and in prelims I was able to throw down a 24.00 and that gave me hope, but you know Kolesnikov is one of the fastest backstrokers and freestylers in the world. To be up there with him is just incredible.”  

Had the Olympic Games happened as scheduled in July 2020, it’s likely Armstrong would not have been in attendance as a member of Team USA. As an 18-year-old in late 2019, Armstrong was 54.74 in the 100m backstroke, good enough for 88th in the world.

He was hardly on anyone’s radar heading into the original Olympic year in 2020 but had made some quiet improvements during his first year of college at West Virginia University. During the first few months of the pandemic in 2020, he transferred to Ohio State University, and it quickly paid dividends for him under coaches Bill Dorenkott and Matt Bowe. Armstrong finished second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 back in 2021, moving all the way up to fourth in the world with a 52.48.

His Tokyo results weren’t as successful, having finished tied for ninth in the semifinals in the 100 back and out of the final.

With such a rapid rise to the U.S. Olympic Team, as well as the rich talent the United States has in the 50 and 100 back, Armstrong wanted to prove to himself in 2022 that making the Olympic team wasn’t an accident that happened too soon. And on Thursday night after that world record, he proved to himself that he belonged at this level.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted. I’m over the moon,” Armstrong said. “It shows that making the Olympics wasn’t a mistake. That was my biggest worry going into this meet is I had to prove to myself and to others that I deserved to be on that team. And, hopefully, I’m able to back this up at worlds."

Armstrong’s strength last summer was the second 50m, coming home in 26.75, three-tenths faster than anyone else in that final to move from seventh to second in Omaha. This year his improved opening speed propelled him to the history books as the second man under 24 seconds in the 50.

Armstrong admitted his biggest emphasis for the race was to nail the start and the first 15 meters, which has been “the hardest thing” for him. even going as far to say, "the more walls there are, the worse I get."

“It’s details and a lot of strength that I struggle with,” he said. “Working on the details was my focus going in but once I’m behind the block, I clear my head and just go.”

Armstrong had also proven he belonged at this level by virtue of his tie for fourth in the 100 free on night one, giving him a relay spot for the 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022 in an event he didn’t qualify for in 2021.

“Getting that (relay) spot meant I could just have fun... I didn’t feel like I was letting anyone down if I failed on the 50 or the 100 back. It was a big weight off my chest that I didn’t have to prove myself anymore.”

And on Friday morning, he cruised to a 53.55 in the heats of the 100 back as he is in the thick of things in tonight’s final, lining up alongside world record holder Ryan Murphy and reigning World Short Course champ Shaine Casas, as well as top seed Justin Ress.

With his newfound opening 50 speed, and his back-end speed that landed him a spot on last year’s Olympic team, Armstrong could put up a very fast time in the 100 backstroke on Friday night.