Kaylee McKeown Breaks Missy Franklin’s Olympic Record With 2:03.73 200 Backstroke

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

  1. Kaylee McKeown (Australia) – 2:03.73 (Olympic Record)
  2. Regan Smith (United States) – 2:04.26
  3. Kylie Masse (Canada) – 2:05.57
  4. Phoebe Bacon (United States) – 2:05.61
  5. Katie Shanahan (Great Britain) – 2:07.53
  6. Peng Xuwei (China) – 2:07.96
  7. Honey Osrin (Great Britain) – 2:08.16
  8. Anastasiya Shkurdai (Individual Neutral Athletes) – 2:10.23

Australia’s Kaylee McKeown set a new Olympic Record en route to 200 backstroke gold tonight. McKeown swam a 2:03.73, breaking the old Olympic Record of a 2:04.06 that Missy Franklin (USA) swam at the 2012 London Olympics.

McKeown is the World Record holder and was the defending Olympic Champion in the event. She becomes the first swimmer to ever go back to back winning both backstroke events as she won the 100 and 200 back in Tokyo and now both in Paris.

Split Comparison

McKeown 2024 Franklin- 2012
50 29.17 29.53
100 31.35 30.97
150 31.36 31.66
200 31.85 31.9
2:03.73 2:04.06

McKeown was out in about the same time as Franklin on the first 100 but came home strong with the biggest difference coming on the 3rd 50 as McKeown was 0.30 seconds faster here.

The 200 back was McKeown’s first event of her double tonight as she also will swim in semifinals of the 200 IM at the end of the session.

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3 months ago

It’s incredible how Kaylee has a fifth gear at the last 25 meters of her backstroke races.

Barty’s Bakery
3 months ago

Only woman to do the backstroke double double and only woman to hold all 3 LCM backstroke world records (simultaneously or at all). Only
swimmer, male or female, to achieve both.

BACKSTROKE GOAT

U turn
3 months ago

Is she the GOAT women’s backstroker

Barty’s Bakery
Reply to  U turn
3 months ago

Yes

Mr Piano
Reply to  U turn
3 months ago

We can’t forget Krisztina Egerszegi

MDE
Reply to  Mr Piano
3 months ago

We can now (in terms of goat female backstroker discussion).

McKeown pretty clearly number 1 now imo.

Greatest 200 backstroker still a debate though.

snailSpace
Reply to  MDE
3 months ago

They have the same amount of individual Olympic backstroke medals, and Egerszegi has one more gold medal overall than Kaylee – she’d also done the triple, which Kaylee hasn’t. So no, they are even at best, but still leaning Egerszegi.

Troyy
Reply to  U turn
3 months ago

Absolutely. 🐐

Swimmer
Reply to  U turn
3 months ago

Of backstroke in general male and female

Canadian Fan
3 months ago

2012 London-Missy swam 2.04.06-an amazing swim and remember it well. Excellent swim for Kaylee!

NotHimAgain
3 months ago

Kaylee McKeown . . .

comment image

Joel
Reply to  NotHimAgain
3 months ago

We really aren’t worthy. That double with the 200 IM was brutal too!

NotHimAgain
Reply to  Joel
3 months ago

The 200m backstroke is one of the most physically grueling swimming events. Her legs must have been killing her after that race. I can’t imagine how she felt after that 200im semi-final, but I’m sure that exhausted would be a mere euphemism for it.

Henry
3 months ago

WOW!!!

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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