2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
- June 15-23, 2024
- Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IN
- LCM (50 Meters)
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Broadcast Info
WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – BY THE NUMBERS
- World Record: 57.33, Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 2023 World Cup – Budapest
- American Record: 57.51, Regan Smith – 2024 NOVA Speedo Grand Challenge
- U.S. Open Record: 57.51, Regan Smith – 2024 NOVA Speedo Grand Challenge
- World Junior Record: 57.57, Regan Smith (USA) – 2019 World Championships
- 2021 Olympic Champion: 57.47, Kaylee McKeown (AUS)
- 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: 58.35, Regan Smith
- 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Cut: 1:01.89
- 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time (‘A’ Cut): 59.99
The women’s 100 backstroke is one of the deepest events in the U.S. right now, with three swimmers ranked within the top eight in the world this season.
Regan Smith Stakes Her Claim with Newly-Minted American Record
Regan Smith has been a mainstay in this event since bursting onto the scene in world record fashion in 2019. Leading off the U.S.’s 400 medley relay, she became the first woman to dip under the 58-second barrier in what was then a mind-boggling time of 57.57.
Since then, sub-58 swims have become almost commonplace for Smith and her biggest international rival, Kaylee McKeown of Australia who now holds the trifecta of backstroke world records. The only other swimmer to log a 57-point swim in the 100 back is Olympic silver medalist Kylie Masse.
Smith has logged three 57-point swims already this season, culminating with a new American record at the NOVA Speedo Grand Challenge, her first personal best in the event since 2019.
Now well into her second season with legendary coach Bob Bowman, Smith has not only shown improvement in her times, but her race strategy as well. Check out the split comparison below; she showed a lot more restraint on the front-half of her race compared to her swim five years ago.
Split Comparison:
| New Record (2024) | Old Record (2019) | |
| 50 | 28.11 | 27.74 |
| 100 | 29.40 | 29.83 |
| 57.51 | 57.57 |
Smith was already the heavy favorite to qualify for her second Olympic team in this event, but this result less than a month out from Trials only separates her more from the field.
Presuming Smith has more to give, it also begs the question of if she can challenge for the Olympic title. Of course, she’ll have to get through the aforementioned McKeown, who seems to have the uncanny ability to drop world record swims no matter the circumstance.
Curzan Leads Wolfpack Duo After Worlds Sweep
Claire Curzan made her first Olympic team in the 100 butterfly three years ago, but has since emerged as a triple-distance threat in backstroke as well. At the 2024 World Championships in Doha, she became the second woman behind Kaylee McKeown to complete the backstroke sweep, winning the 50-100-200 with best times in all three.
Her time from Doha is ranked #2 this season. Curzan is facing extremely crowded fields in her best events, but she looks to have more momentum in backstroke in the lead-up to Trials.
Katharine Berkoff (photo: Jack Spitser)
Another competitor to keep an eye on is Katharine Berkoff, who took home her third NCAA title in the yards version of the event this March. She was already the #2 performer of all-time, but continued to stake her claim as one of only two women to ever break 49 seconds behind NCAA and American record holder Gretchen Walsh.
While Walsh doesn’t focus on this event in long course, Berkoff has successfully carried her momentum from yards to meters for the past two seasons. In 2022, she earned a silver medal in the 50 back at Worlds. The next season at 2023 U.S. Nationals, she became the #3 U.S. performer of all time and booked another ticket to Worlds (58.01). She ultimately finished 3rd in the event, behind McKeown and Smith.
She hasn’t been quite as fast this season, clocking in at #3 with a 58.61 from the U.S. Open, but based on her previous performances she has the potential to make her first Olympic team.
Finally, we can’t count out Rhyan White, who claimed the second spot in this event behind Smith in Tokyo. After wrapping up her NCAA career with Alabama in 2023, she moved her training base to the NC State pro group, where Berkoff is also based. White hasn’t logged a sub-59 swim since the summer of 2022, but recently popped a 59.20 at the San Antonio PSS to sit at #4 this season.
NC State has a strong presence in this event; including Berkoff and White, there are five present and future Wolfpack members ranked in the top 16 this season.
2023-24 U.S. Rankings, Women’s 100 Backstroke (LCM)
- Regan Smith, 57.51 – 2024 NOVA Speedo Grand Challenge
- Claire Curzan, 58.29 – 2024 World Championships
- Katharine Berkoff, 58.61 – 2023 U.S. Open
- Rhyan White, 59.20 – 2024 PSS – San Antonio
- Isabelle Stadden, 59.22 – 2024 NOVA Speedo Grand Challenge
- Olivia Smoliga, 59.25 – 2023 U.S. Open
- Kennedy Noble, 59.45 – 2024 Phoenix May Cray
- Teagan O’Dell, 59.51 – 2023 World Junior Championships
- Leah Shackley, 59.57 – 2024 Charlotte Open
- Josephine Fuller, 59.67 – 2023 Pan American Games
College Competitors Jostling for Position
When Katharine Berkoff took home the NCAA title earlier this year, she led the field by nearly two seconds. The next four competitors finished less than two-tenths apart and will also look to translate their yards success into meters later this month.
Of the five, Phoebe Bacon is the only one with Olympic experience. She qualified for Tokyo in the 200 back, where she ultimately finished 5th. Her best time in the 100 comes from all the way back in 2019, when she bested then-world record holder Regan Smith at the U.S. Open.
Phoebe Bacon (photo: Jack Spitser)
Bacon only has one other 58-point swim to her name, also from pre-pandemic times in 2020, but based on her previous Trials experience she seems likely to make the final.
Isabelle Stadden finished 2nd at NCAAs. She’s been a mainstay in the backstroke events throughout her career with Cal, and recently announced she would be taking her Covid fifth-year with the Bears.
At Wave 2 Olympic Trials in 2021, Stadden made it to the championship final in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. She set a PB in the shorter event in semifinals (58.99) and went on to finish 5th overall, just ahead of Bacon. She looks on track to make another finals appearance this year, as her time from the NOVA Grand Challenge sits at #5 this season.
Kennedy Noble is also riding some momentum from the NCAA season. The NC State sophomore made her first A final appearance in the 100 back, after finishing 5th in the 200 in her freshman campaign.
Since competing at Trials in 2021, she’s dropped her 100 back time by just over two seconds from 1:01.12 to 59.11. This season, she ranks #7 with a 59.45 from earlier in May. Noble could make it a season of firsts and vie for her first Trials final.
Josephine Fuller started out her season with a best time en route to Pan American gold in the 100 back (59.67) and capped off her NCAA campaign with another best time in the yards version of the event. She slots in at #10 this season with her time from Pan Ams.
Teenage Talent Looking to Rise
In total, 13 American women have been under the Olympic A-cut of 59.99 this season, another testament to the depth of domestic talent in this event. Of those thirteen, four are still in high school (or are freshly graduated).
The youngest of that group is Teagan O’Dell, who represented the U.S. at the 2023 World Junior Championships. She set her best time at that meet, blazing 59.51 on the mixed medley leadoff that ultimately won gold. O’Dell is arguably better in the 200 back, where she’s the World Jr. champion, but should be in the mix in the shorter distance as well. O’Dell is set to join Cal starting in the fall of 2025.
Next up are two athletes who will join the Wolfpack in the fall: Erika Pelaez and Leah Shackley.
Erika Pelaez (photo: Jack Spitser)
Erika Pelaez also clocked an OQT at World Juniors, where she earned a bronze medal with a PB of 59.94. Pelaez recently improved her best time in the 100 free at the 18 & Under Spring Cup – Fort Lauderdale, as well as sweeping the rest of her events. If she can find a similar drop in the 100 back, she could be in the mix to challenge for a finals spot as her current time places her at #13 this season.
Leah Shackley has the #9 time this season with a 59.57, just two-hundredths off her PB from 2023. She was also present at World Juniors, picking up a gold medal in the 50 fly and a silver in the 100 fly.
Finally, Maggie Wanezek, who is headed to Wisconsin in the fall, slots in at #12 this season thanks to a 59.90 from 2024 NCSAs in March. She also clocked a 200 back PB at that meet, and has good momentum to make a semi, or the final, in the shorter distance later this month.
Smoliga Hunting for Third Olympic Berth
Olivia Smoliga is the only swimmer in the field who has represented the U.S. at the last two Olympics. She made her Olympic debut in 2016, competing in the 100 backstroke, and in 2021 finished 3rd in the 100 free to earn a spot on the 4×100 free relay.
Her best time of 58.31 puts her right in the mix for the second spot, but she’s only been as fast as 59.25 this season at the 2023 U.S. Open.
However, Smoliga seems to have gone all-in on the 100 free, where there are likely six spots up for qualification. She hasn’t swum the 100 back since the U.S. Open.
The Verdict
It’s hard to bet against Regan Smith taking the top spot here, as she’s been exactly 0.5-seconds faster than Berkoff’s best time.
Speaking of Berkoff, we’re giving her the edge here over Curzan. Her international breakout in 2022 came on the heels of a stellar NCAA season, and she’s only gotten better since then. (I’ll also throw in a soft prediction that she dips into the 57-second territory at some point between semis and finals, becoming the second American woman to do so.)
The remainder of the field looks to be dependent on who has the hot hand. Any number of these swimmers could be on the outside looking in when it comes to securing a lane for finals. All in all, it’s shaping up to be an exciting race you won’t want to miss.
SWIMSWAM PICKS
| PLACE | SWIMMER | SEASON BEST | LIFETIME BEST |
| 1 | Regan Smith | 57.51 | 57.51 |
| 2 | Katharine Berkoff | 58.61 | 58.01 |
| 3 | Claire Curzan | 58.29 | 58.29 |
| 4 | Isabelle Stadden | 59.22 | 58.99 |
| 5 | Rhyan White | 59.20 | 58.43 |
| 6 | Kennedy Noble | 59.45 | 59.11 |
| 7 | Erika Pelaez | 59.94 | 59.94 |
| 8 | Phoebe Bacon | 59.76 | 58.63 |
Dark Horse: Rylee Erisman – Before this year, Erisman had never swum under 1:02 in this event. She threw down a 1:00.58 at the NCSA Spring Championships, and then two months later became the fastest 15-year-old American ever in the 100 free. She is ranked #16 this season in the 100 back, and seems to have everything pointing in her favor to be right in the mix come Trials.
Smith is gonna win at trials
America hypes her up since 2019
Kaylee embarrassed her
People hate on Kaylee and continue make excuses for Reagan
Easy to see how this plays out
No one hates on Kaylee.
Some people do… but it’s very rare
Not that it would be invalid or unfair, but it is so wild that Curzan could conceivably not make the Olympic team six months after becoming a triple world champion. US women’s backstroke is soo deep
You’re kind of ignoring the very important context that she’s only a word champion because none of the top backstrokers went
I know those times might not have meant anything, but CCs times at the NCAP invite were a tad concerning. I have Berkoff getting 2nd, but CC has got to be in absolute top form to get 2nd, which I think she definitely has a chance to do.
Smith is obviously winning this. I have Berkoff second. Curzan potentially could sneak in but I’m not convinced. She said she was unrested in Doha but has been way slower the whole season since, so I think she will be around her Doha times and Berkoff will almost certainly beat a 58.27
If she wasn’t fully rested at World’s what makes you think she’ll swim faster at regular meets?
Wishful thinking to suggest she hasn’t improved from Doha Aussie troll.
If she wasn’t rested at worlds then she should swim similar times in season where she also isn’t rested. If she’s way slower in season then that suggests she was rested at Worlds.
It just seems like you don’t understand how swimming works.
Berkoff is better than Curzan so if I wanted what’s best for Australia I would be wanting Curzan to qualify lol
Somehow Berkoff is better than the reigning world champion and the swimmer with the sec fastest time this year? Try again troll.
The US will have two women on the podium in both backstrokes. Smith gold Curzan bronze.
Curzan said she was not fully rested at worlds. I’ll take her word for it.
Berkoff has a faster PB by over a quarter of a second and medalled in Fukuoka in a time faster than Curzan’s PB. Berkoff has been a 58.7 this year without going to a taper meet. Curzan’s best time outside of Worlds is 59.1.
Also Curzan doesn’t have the second fastest time this year, she’s fifth. If you look at the entire qualifying period then Berkoff is 4th and Curzan is 6th.
So yes, by every metric available, Berkoff is better than Curzan in this event.
I was actually on the fence about whether you were a troll or just a really misguided simpleton but your constant ridiculous takes have made it clear you are trolling. No human adult could… Read more »
Swimdad is a certified troll.
Omg I cannot wait for your trials!!! I wake up every day hoping it’s the 15th lol. I’m winning the pick em’ contest this year.
And you have semis!!!! Why don’t we have semis? What other countries do semis?
In addition, the 2024 Olympic Team Trials incorporate heats for 800 FR and 1500 FR.
Ok and
Classic Relay Names Guy response about something nobody asked for.
It’s relevant. Tracy mentioned that not all countries include semis in their trials. Canada doesn’t include heats for the 800/1500 either.
Ireland is the only other country I can think of that does semis but their selection is basically just “anyone who hits the OQT in any round” so they’re not really semis, more like just another chance to compete
China and Japan both do, don’t they?
Yes I think you’re right!
Charlotte Crush should be in the dark horse
not to sound like a non american, but LCM is a different ballgame than SCY (and erisman has been on a tear)
#7 Pelaez’s PB is .11 faster than Crush’s PB
Charlotte Crush is waayyyy better at SCY than LCM. Not saying she’s not awesome, but idk if it’s her time yet.
She has a faster PB by about a half second and the PB is also almost a year old. Of course it’s hard to tell what that means, maybe it means she is at a bit of a plateau or maybe it means she’s due for another substantial drop this summer. I’d say her huge SCY drops at winter juniors push it in favor of the latter though
People used to say the same about Curzan’s backstroke when she was around Charlotte’s age.
If I’m not mistaken Regan has the fastest 100 and 200back in 2024. Faster than McKeown her biggest rival.
She WILL make the Olympics and go for 2 individual golds. Possibly 3 with the 200fly.
As of right now, McKeown has the fastest 200 Back in 2024 – she went 2:03.84 in April.
Thanks for the correction. Still Regan for me.
In the rain too I think.
You are mistaken. Kaylee McKeown has the fastest 200 back in 2024.
You really need to stop whatever you are doing with your delusions
Let’s get past the 2024 Olympic Team Trials.
Okay?