Kaylee McKeown After 100 Back Gold, “Regan Pushes Me To The Best Of My Abilities”

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Kaylee McKeown of Australia defended her title in the women’s 100 backstroke swimming a new Olympic Record of a 57.33. McKeown previously held the World Record after swimming a 57.33 last October until Regan Smith swam a 57.13 at US Trials to set a new World Record. McKeown got the win tonight, touching ahead of Smith.

“Regan pushes me to the best of my abilities,” McKeown said. “We had a special moment after the race, just thanking one another. I wouldn’t be the athlete I am if it wasn’t for her.”

Smith also spoke of the two and their competition after she won silver. “The thing that is most important is that we are pushing the sport in the right direction. Our rivalry is great for attention in the sport. We have so much respect for each other, and I have so much respect for Katherine as well. It’s a great situation.”

Winning bronze in the women’s 100 back was Katharine Berkoff of the US who captured her first Olympic medal with her time. “It’s good to not be totally satisfied. It keeps you hungry,” Berkoff said. “It’s not quite the peak of what I want yet; but it’s still so very special.”

Also highlighting the evening was Daniel Wiffen of Ireland who captured the country’s first gold medal on the men’s side in history. Wiffen won the 800 freestyle.

“Lights, camera, action! Amazing. I always knew I had it in my head, I just had to put it in the pool,” Wiffen said. “I’ve done so much work in the past four years. I’ve been training so hard, I knew something was coming, something special.”

Wiffen was able to hold off Bobby Finke of the US who charged on the final 50 to earn silver. Finke won the event in Tokyo but came up just short here. “I’d be lying If I said I wasn’t disappointed… I like winning. It sucks not to win. I did the best I could and I’ve got to be proud of that. The silver is nothing to be disappointed in. I’ve got to take it as motivation going into the mile.”

2016 Rio Olympic Champion in the men’s 100 freestyle Kyle Chalmers will look to be at the top of the podium in the event once again tomorrow night. He is the #2 seed and will swim out of lane 5, the lane that has been home to the last five Olympic Champions in the event.

“I feel like I’m in as good a shape as I can possibly be for the Olympic Games,” Chalmers said. “Definitely better than I was in Tokyo.”

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Yikes
2 months ago

Kaylee and Regan are great role models not only for hard work in the pool but also how to win and lose with class and grace. Sportsmanship is an important part of the process too!

Absolutely
2 months ago

Kaylee McKeown is my favorite Aussie swimmer by far. She is the best in business, always delivers her best in any competition and does it so consistently in terms of times too. She’s got great personality, always respects her rivals and stays humble. Man, the 100 BK yesterday was just a beauty. It is the most beautiful, brilliant and perfect race I’ve ever watched. I am so glad she won.

Boknows34
2 months ago

Good to see a healthy rivalry built on mutual respect. Both are very likeable.

Last edited 2 months ago by Boknows34
Thomas The Tank Engine
2 months ago

How can anyone hate Kaylee?

She’s honest and classy.

Henry
2 months ago

Kaylee is a class act.

John26
2 months ago

“Better than Tokyo” is very ominous for everyone else in the 100free

Joel
Reply to  John26
2 months ago

He’s going to need to be but I have faith that he can win.

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  Joel
2 months ago

He can win if winning time is 47.0

But I don’t know if he can win if winning time is 46.8

backstrokebro
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
2 months ago

winning time will definitely not be 46.8. It will be 47.1

Tigerswim22
2 months ago

These three young ladies are the embodiment of what good sportsmanship is all about.

They’re champions, pure and simple – each representing our sport and their countries with distinction!

Aragon Son of Arathorne
2 months ago

I think her dad passing gave her this unbeatable spirit. She finds another gear

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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