Gavin Keogh’s 53.52 100 Back Moves Him To #3 All-Time U.S. 17-18, Tops World Juniors Semis

2025 World Junior Swimming Championships

• August 19-24, 2025
• Otopeni, Romania
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1
  • Finals: Day 1

BOYS’ 100 BACKSTROKE – Semifinals

1. Gavin Keogh (USA) – 53.52
2. John Shortt (IRL) – 53.80
3. Georgii Iakovlev (NAB) – 53.90
4. Henry Allan (AUS) – 54.05
5. Daniele del Signore (ITA) – 54.35
6. Aukan Goldin (ISR) – 54.44
7. Liam Carrington (TTO) – 54.54
8. Parker Deshayes (CAN) – 54.90

Gavin Keogh made a statement during the semifinals of the boys’ 100 backstroke at the World Junior Championships. The 17-year-old produced a time of 53.52 to win the first semifinal and advance as the top seed into the final.

Keogh split 25.61/27.91, leading from the very first stroke and holding on through the finish. He won his heat, semifinal one, by 0.28 seconds and secured the top qualifying time by that same margin.

His time represents a 0.47-second drop from his previous best of 53.86 set at last month’s U.S. Junior National Championships, where he split 26.08/27.78. Before that meet, his best stood at 54.72.

With his newly minted personal best, Keogh moves from fourth to third on the all-time U.S. rankings for 17-18 boys, surpassing Michael Taylor‘s 53.77 from the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Top 10 All-Time 17-18 Age Group Rankings:

1. Daniel Diehl (YMCA of Cumberland), 53.07 — 2022
2. Ryan Murphy (Bolles School Sharks), 53.38 — 2013
3. Gavin Keogh (Flatiron Athletic Club), 53.52 — 2025*
4. Michael Taylor (Dynamo Swim Club), 53.77 — 2016
5. Gunner Grant (Heart of Texas Aquatics Team), 53.89 — 2019
6. Jack Aikins (SwimAtlanta), 54.03 — 2020
7. Jack Conger (Unattached), 54.04 — 2013
8. Wyatt Davis (Carmel Swim Club), 54.14 — 2019
9. Nick Simons (Lake Oswego Swim Club), 54.15 — 2022
10. Keaton Jones (Swim Neptune), 54.34 — 2023

Also at last month’s Junior Nationals, Keogh won both the 50 back (25.19) and 200 back (1:57.88) in lifetime bests. His 200 back victory was a meet record, breaking the previous mark of 1:58.42 set by Josh Zuchowski in 2022. The swim moved him up to No. 16 all-time in the 17-18 age group after previously ranking 21st. His prior best was a 1:58.19 from last summer’s Junior Pan Pacs, where he won silver. That time still ranks sixth all-time in the U.S. 15-16 age group.

Keogh is set to join NC State this fall and is the No. 7 recruit in the boys high school class of 2025. He leads the class in both short course yards backstroke events.

He is set to race both the 50 back (#6 seed) and 200 back (#4 seed) later this week. He is not entered with his best times, which would have ranked him 5th in the 50 back and 2nd in the 200 back on the entry sheets.