Regan Smith Swims 57.98 100 Backstroke; Her 27th Time Under 58 Seconds

2026 PRO SWIM SERIES – AUSTIN

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – Finals

Top 8 Finishers

  1. Regan SmithΒ (TXLA) β€” 57.98
  2. Rylee ErismanΒ (LAKR) β€” 59.25
  3. Anna PeplowskiΒ (ISC) β€” 1:00.18
  4. Charlotte CrushΒ (LAK) β€” 1:00.53
  5. Beryl GastaldelloΒ (FRA) β€” 1:01.85
  6. Mena BoardmanΒ (CS) β€” 1:02.65
  7. Emma HarveyΒ (BER) β€” 1:02.72
  8. Sydney Wasylenky (TOPS) β€” 1:02.98

Regan Smith swam to a 57.98 in the 100 backstroke for an event win on night 1 of competition in Austin. That swim marked her 27th time going under the 58 second mark. No other swimmer in history has been under 58 seconds more than Smith.

Back in April 2025, Smith was tied with Australia’s Kaylee McKeown as the two had both been under the 58 second mark 22 times in their careers. Since April, Smith has been under that mark five times while McKeown has been under that mark three times.

Data and visual credit to Barry Revzin

The visual above includes the top 200 performances all-time in the women’s LCM 100 backstroke. Smith and McKeown make up almost half of those swims as the two hold 89 out of the top 200 performances.

Smith is the World Record holder after swimming to a 57.13 at US Olympic Trials back in June 2024. She battled it out with McKeown this past summer at the 2025 World Championships as McKeown swam to a 57.16, just 0.02 off the World Record, while Smith touched for silver in a 57.35.

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Viking Steve
4 months ago

Regan (along with KD) have really mastered how to be a professional swimmer currently.

Swimmers on the National Team should really reach out to them for mentorship when they transition to professional swimming

Mike Vick no dogs
4 months ago

I still remember Kathleen Baker’s outdoor world record with 58.1

McIntosh-Marchand
Reply to  Mike Vick no dogs
4 months ago

I still remember Gemma Spofforth 58.12 rubbersuit WR that survived for 8 years until Kylie Masse broke the record in 2017 Budapest World Championship

Pcb
Reply to  McIntosh-Marchand
4 months ago

I remember Natalie’s iconic 59.58!

DerbyContender
Reply to  Pcb
4 months ago

When the HoF pool was shallow (4.5 feet?) at both ends and outdoors. One hell of a swim.

Aquajosh
Reply to  McIntosh-Marchand
4 months ago

Gemma didn’t wear a supersuit when she broke that record, she wore the 2008 LZR Racer.

Admin
Reply to  Aquajosh
4 months ago

The LZR Racer was definitely a “super suit.” It wasn’t the most super of the suits, but it wasn’t fully textile either.

McIntosh-Marchand
Reply to  Aquajosh
4 months ago

2008 LZR is a rubbersuit

Eddie
Reply to  Mike Vick no dogs
4 months ago

58.00

DMSWIM
Reply to  Mike Vick no dogs
4 months ago

She went 58.00 in Irvine to set the world record.

LBSWIM
Reply to  Mike Vick no dogs
4 months ago

Wasn’t it 58.00?

LBSWIM
Reply to  LBSWIM
4 months ago

Others have already said this. πŸ˜‰

Randy
Reply to  LBSWIM
4 months ago

I think it was 58.00

Randy

BigBoiJohnson
4 months ago

As late as July 27th, 2019, no woman in history had ever been under 58.00 seconds for the 100BK.

Now, Regan alone has done so 27 times. Kaylee has done it 25 times.

Insane how far they have pushed women’s backstroke.

GOATKeown
4 months ago

It’s wild that only 5 women have been below 58 and only 2 have done it consistently. Any swimmer in the world other than Regan or Kaylee and a 57 would be crazy news but for those two it’s just an in-season time lol

McIntosh-Marchand
Reply to  GOATKeown
4 months ago

On another note,

Riley Erisman seems to be having similar events and focus like MOC:

50/100/200 free and 100 back with the main focus on 100/200 free.

2028 LA w100/200 free race will be πŸŽ†πŸŽ‡

Admin
Reply to  McIntosh-Marchand
4 months ago

I hoooopppe soooooo.

I think that’s the move for Rylee.

Hswimmer
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 months ago

Glad she chose CAL too. Missy like event line up. Obviously under different coaching.

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, 2024, 2025, and 2026 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 …

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