Regan Smith Breaks McKeown’s Olympic Record With 57.28 100 Backstroke Lead-Off

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

WOMEN’S 4Γ—100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINALS

  • World Record: 3:50.40 – USA (2019)
  • Olympic Record: 3:51.60 – AUS (2021)
  • 2021 Winning Time: 3:51.60 – AUS
  • 2021 Time to Win Bronze: 3:52.60

Podium

  1. USA – 3:49.63Β ***NEW WORLD RECORD***
  2. Australia – 3:53.11
  3. China – 3:53.23
  4. Canada – 3:53.91
  5. Japan – 3:56.17
  6. France – 3:56.29
  7. Sweden – 3:56.92
  8. Netherlands – 3:59.52

Regan Smith led the US women’s 4×100 medley relay off in a new Olympic Record splitting a 57.28 on the lead-off leg. That broke Kaylee McKeown’s previous Olympic Record of a 57.33 that McKeown swam earlier this week to win gold in the individual women’s 100 back.

Smith swam a 57.66 for silver in the individual event but was faster tonight and would have won gold a few days ago with her time from tonight. Smith is the World Record holder in the event with a 57.13 from 2024 US Olympic Trials.

Smith- Paris (New Olympic Record) McKeown- PARIS (Old Olympic Record) Smith- US Trials (World Record)
50 27.84 28.08 27.94
100 29.44 29.25 29.19
57.28 57.33 57.13

Smith was out faster tonight than she was compared to McKeown’s Olympic Record as well as her own World Record. She faded slightly on the 2nd 50 but was able to get the Olympic Record.

With her swim today, Smith earned her 2nd gold medal in her career. That also marks 2 golds in the last 24 hours as she helped the US mixed 4×100 medley relay to gold swimming the backstroke leg during prelims.

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saltie
57 minutes ago

Regan is the faster swimmer, Kaylee is the better racer. And unfortunately for us Americans, the Olympics are about winning

AQWAMN
1 hour ago

Regan is great and Kaylee is great… Reagan seemed to have massive extra energy tonight at the end. She raced tough races and so did Kaylee.. Ironically, Reagan could be like Summer.. The 100 fly is within her range and possibly a 200 IM but breast has to be improved. Nobody’s saying she is going to win all these races… If Reagan keeps swimming she will win multiple individual Olympic gold medals.. Even Kaylee’s IM was pretty good, not her best time but was in the race for 150 meters..

Troyy
1 hour ago

So I guess Regan’s mental problems aren’t entirely resolved. 🧐

U turn
3 hours ago

Kaylee has proven so many times she is better then Regan when it comes to racing individual events. Nothing to be ashamed of for Regan as Kaylee is the greatest ever.

Arg
Reply to  U turn
2 hours ago

Reagan has gone faster than Kaylee’s PB twice in the 100, including once directly against her. Kaylee definitely had a better meet in the individual events but this comment is just nonsense.

Greeny
Reply to  Arg
28 minutes ago

What matters is who swim best race in the finals in last 3 years Kaylee beaten Smith 6 from 6 in finals in 3 Olympic finals and 3 in WC in 2023 .

Last edited 24 minutes ago by Greeny
Swimswam follower
Reply to  U turn
2 hours ago

But guess who has the Olympic record?

Greeny
Reply to  Swimswam follower
24 minutes ago

guess who won the double double and clean swept world championships

Yozhik
Reply to  U turn
1 hour ago

Regan set her first world record in 100m event swimming relay.
Regan set current Olympic record in 100m event swimming relay.
Regan set current world record swimming at trials.
She needs to borrow some racing calmness and confidence from Kate Douglass and nobody will beat her in individual race.

Yes, Kaylee is a great racer but it isn’t the only factor to be qualified for the greatest ever. But I do share your opinion that she is the best swimmer in Australian team.

NB Swimmer
Reply to  U turn
1 hour ago

Not everyone can be a relay swimmer.

NoFlyKick
Reply to  U turn
45 minutes ago

Kaylee certainly has gotten the better of Regan in head-to-head races, but the “greatest ever” title in backstroke belongs to Krisztina Egerszegi. Several other women can make a better claim to “greatest female swimmer ever”.

Parker
5 hours ago

I’m having difficulty regarding the link that you’re providing us for results. When I go to the results page or even just the event page, it then prompts me to download a link and it’s only showing us who the top three medalists are? Is there not a way to find a regular format with the top eight finishers and what their splits were? Because we can’t even see from any of the pages so far what the splits were for the women’s 400 medley relay?

TIA

Grump
5 hours ago

GOod Job Regan!!

Ivymom
6 hours ago

I actually cried. Smith seemed disappointed after her 1 back silver but this swim erased that! Amazing last swim for Lilly king. Fastest split ever for g Walsh. Tori I mean what a final swim for a dream meet. I am so happy for all of them. What a way to end!!!

Chris Breedy
6 hours ago

Couldn’t be happier for Regan!!!πŸ’—πŸ’—πŸ’—

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 European Championships …

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