2021 SYDNEY OPEN
- Thursday, May 13th – Sunday, May 16th
- Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre
- LCM (50m)
- Heats at 6pm local; Finals at 9am local
- Meet Site
- Start List
- SwimSwam Preview
- Results or Meet Mobile
Kaylee McKeown has been firing on all cylinders at the 2021 Sydney Open and has now posted the second-fastest long course 100 backstroke swim of all time in the form of a 57.63. The swim is a new Australian and Commonwealth record in the women’s 100 bacsktroke, improving upon her own marks of 57.93 from December 2020.
That swim for McKeown gets her within 0.06 seconds of Regan Smith‘s 2019 world record in the event of 57.57 and replaces her 57.93 as the #2 100 backstroke in history. McKeown is now the only woman to ever break 58 seconds more than once.
All-Time Women’s Long Course 100 Backstroke Performances
- Regan Smith – 57.57 (2019)
- Kaylee McKeown – 57.63 (2021)
- Kaylee McKeown – 57.93 (2020)
- Kathleen Baker – 58.00 (2018)
- Kylie Masse – 58.10 (2017)
- Kaylee McKeown – 58.11 (2020)
- Gemma Spofforth – 58.12 (2009)
- Kaylee McKeown – 58.14 (2021)
- Kylie Masse – 58.16 (2019)
- Regan Smith – 58.18 (2020)
McKeown now holds the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 8th fastest 100 backstroke performances of all time, including her 57.63 from the finals of the 2021 Sydney Open, as well as her 58.14 from the prelims.
Having swum a 57.93 in December 2020, McKeown was already the top rank woman in the world this year but has now pulled ahead even more. She now has a fairly wide margin ahead of the field and is 0.61 seconds ahead of second-ranked Kathleen Dawson who holds a 58.24.
2020-2021 LCM Women 100 Back
McKeown
57.45
| 2 | Regan Smith | USA | 57.64 | 07/29 |
| 3 | Kylie Masse | CAN | 57.70 | 06/19 |
| 4 | Kathleen Dawson | GBR | 58.08 | 05/23 |
| 5 | Olivia Smoliga | USA | 58.31 | 05/15 |
Emily Seebohm was also present in the women’s 100 backstroke final and posted a 59.06 for the silver medal while Jessica Unicomb notched a 1:01.95 for second place.
Madi Wilson 1.56 and Leah Neale 1.57 in 200 free heats . McKeon and Titmus not swimming it
And Kayley 2.12 in 200 IM heat but she definitely took the freestyle leg very easy
Yes, the freestyle looked quite leisurely.
Clocked off at 150m and had a relaxing cup of coffee on the way home LOL. Will be interesting whether she actually goes out tomorrow and gives it a real blast ….. or will save any final “action” for the 50 back ?
Wilson now becoming very consistent at 1.56mid & below suggesting that she’s now firming for one of the “peak” line-up. Am hoping Throssell, or someone else can get into the 1.56s at Trials as I really do NOT want Neale anywhere near the finals given her record of mediocre finals swims in this relay.
McKeon is so often skipping the 200 at these small meets over the last year.
She did a 1.55.79 heat in April . But yes, no final
also no Kyle or Cate today
Chalmers scratched the 100 fly so I guess he’s done with this meet already.
was he entered in 50 free?
Yes and scratched it as well.
After 2019 I fought Reagan Smith was untouchable in the 100 back, and was going to win 6 golds in Tokyo and a silver (3 relays, 100 and 200 back, 200 fly, silver in the 4x100fr). She can still do it, but the invencibility aura in the 100 back, is gone.
Ya know what, idk if the US is even a lock for the medley relay anymore. Based on 2019 world results, Australia now seems to have a shot at a 3:50, just like the US did in Gwangju; and there’s not much reason yet to believe the US will be any faster (minus perhaps the emergence of Curzan). Manuel, Smith, nor King have gotten noticeably faster…….
whereas for Australia, a 57.6 backstroke is 1.4 seconds faster than 2019’s backstroker (who wasn’t even McKeown) and it appears that Emma McKeon, the flyer in ‘19, has improved noticeably since in several events…and C1 anchored in ‘19 in 51.9, which we know to not be her best, since she’s anchored in 51.00… Read more »
Cate has actually anchored in a 50.9, not sure which relay
At the last Pan Pacs.
3:30 dang they must be flying
Are you forgetting that Simone Manuel keeps getting faster every year 52.7 in 2016, 52.27 in 2017 and 52.04 in 2019??? Or am I just reading incorrect time also Lily King has been dropping 1:05 low consistently and Regan smith 58.81 prelims in indy and Claire curzan 56.2 fly last month faster than Emma McKeon and just recently did 24.17/56.4 double (50 free and 100 fly) faster than McKeon s double from yesterday 24.5/56.8 (50 free and 100 fly) and we all know that Simone Manuel is a tapered / clutch performer so if you’re going to bet against the Americans I hope you’re betting for a long shot to try and win big money
Except Manuel was not a clutch performer in relays.
I wouldn’t say a lock, but they’re about even on 3 legs and then you have the breaststroke. So AUS would need to have a top-notch race or the US will have to be off.
McKeown’s coach has confirmed she won’t be swimming the 400 IM at trials.
She’s currently the leader in 200 and 400im right? But looks like her coach has ruled it out for this Olympics as he only wants her to swim these two individual events which are likely the backstroke ones
Best 100 ever, IMO. I don’t allow full credit for leading off a relay. Regan Smith is a frontrunner, like a horse who relaxes on an easy lead but tightens up when another is alongside. We’ve seen that with Smith for years. Her turns and underwaters are still great but she loses something in translation if someone is alongside her. I always expect Bacon to defeat her if it’s razor tight. Same with Kathleen Baker.
I don’t think it’s that as much as she’s just been kinda fading lately on every last 25. Which is why I think McKeown has a huge advantage seeing as her best times are basically as good as Smith’s but also much more able to bring it home strong if necessary
Regan is fading because she is in very heavy training. Wait for the full taper. You will see a different swimmer.
Stupid comment. Zero truth to this. Go find examples. You can’t. Bacon beats an unrested Smith SOMETIMES. Please do your homework.
Yeesh that’s insane. She swims fast every time she races. She’s gonna get that WR at Trials.
I actually think she can go 56.-
Judging by her steep improvement curve + the fact that she’s been doing these times at small meets with 0 competition means something pretty wild in the future, I believe
I think I read womens 100bk & mens 100br have tended to shadow eachother generation after generation, so as much as Peaty is a freak, we probably should be looking for a woman going 56s – Possibly in the next cycle?