Regan Smith Wins Silver in 100m Backstroke

Regan Smith won silver in the 100m backstroke final at the swimming world championships in Singapore, finishing in 57.35 seconds.

What happened?

Kaylee McKeown edged Regan Smith to win gold, with a time of 57.16 seconds, just missing the world record. American Katharine Berkoff took bronze in 58.15 seconds.

Why it matters for Regan Smith

This is the fourth time in four tries that McKeown has outpaced Smith in the event at either the Olympics or world championships. Smith was a fraction ahead at the 50-meter mark, but McKeown passed her in the final meters.

What comes next?

Smith's time was her third-best ever and is now the fifth best in the event's history. Smith is the current world-record holder, setting the mark of 57.12 at last year's U.S. Olympic trials. She also set the Olympic record of 57.28 in Paris: the event's second-best time ever before Tuesday. Smith won gold at the 2022 worlds, which McKeown did not compete in. McKeown now has five world championship golds and 13 overall medals. Smith said in an interview on Peacock: “What more can you do? I have no control over how fast Kaylee swims,” “I’m going to choose not to be frustrated: 57.35 is pretty fantastic.” The rivalry between McKeown and Smith is still one of the best in swimming. McKeown beat Smith 57.33 to 57.66 in the individual 100-meter final at the Paris Olympics. Smith took silver behind McKeown at the Paris Olympics and the 2023 worlds and earned bronze in the Tokyo Olympics behind McKeown and Canada’s Kylie Masse.