2025 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP – Westmont
- October 17-19, 2025
- Westmont, Illinois
- SCM (25 meters)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Live Recaps:
Women’s 200m Backstroke – Final
World Record: 1:58.04 – Regan Smith (USA), 2024World Cup Record: 1:59.83 – Regan Smith (USA), 2024- World Junior Record: 1:59.96 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2024
U.S. Open Record: 1:58.86 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 2025
Top 8 Finishers:
- Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 1:57.87
- Regan Smith (USA) – 1:57.91
- Miranda Grana (CLB) – 2:01.96
- Phoebe Bacon (CLB) – 2:02.13
- Hannah Fredericks (AUS) – 2:03.11
- Anastasiya Shkurdai (NAA) – 2:04.72
- Madison Kryger (CAN) – 2:04.76
- Rhyan White (CLB) – 2:05.54
Kaylee McKeown swam to a new World Record in the women’s 200 backstroke posting a 1:57.87 in the 200 backstroke. That broke the previous World Record of a 1:58.04 set by Regan Smith last December at the 2024 SCM World Championships.
Split Comparison
| Kaylee McKeown– New WR |
Regan Smith– Old WR
|
|
| 50 | 27.93 | 27.76 |
| 100 | 29.75 | 29.83 |
| 150 | 29.82 | 30.24 |
| 200 | 30.37 | 30.21 |
| Final Time | 1:57.87 | 1:58.04 |
McKeown was off Smith’s World Record for the first half of the race but had a huge split on the third 50 as she was faster than Smith’s split by 0.42. She becomes the first woman under 1:58 although Smith touched just 0.04 behind McKeown today. McKeown has now been under the 2:00 mark five times in her career.
McKeown and Smith have battled it out the last two weeks in the backstroke events. McKeown won the 50 and 200 backstrokes in Carmel last week and repeated her titles this week. Smith on the other hand has earned the win in the 100 back at both stops, most notably tying her own World Record in the 100 back just last night. The Australian McKeown holds the long course World Records in the 50 and 200 backstrokes.
It’s a WR
All those posters saying ‘Kaylee is off this meet’ lol
I mean, she’s not at her best.
But evidently being not at her best still allowed her to break world record.
Her speed is off. She’s said that herself multiple times. She said she can’t lower her load for risk of hurting her shoulder again so she basically has to train through and doesn’t have her speed
She clearly does have her speed.
Excuses excuses! By .04 – that’s swimming!
I don’t think you know the difference between an excuse and just a fact.
Saying that someone is not at their best at a meet based on previous best times is a fact.
Claiming that someone who lost every race for the last 5 years only lost because a swim meet was postponed 5 and a half years ago is an excuse (and an insane one at that)
I don’t think you understand the impact of psychology on sport. Why do you think so many of us are rooting for Regan? Because we know that some of these races could have easily gone the other way, because Regan is also that talented. Thankfully, she is getting very close to Kaylee’s best times now and has even beaten her. That’s huge, considering what Regan has gone through. I understand that Kaylee went gone through a terrible personal tragedy, and she has repeatedly shown how strong and talented she is. Kaylee is a great champion – we all know it. But her tragedy is different from the emotional issues that have plagued Regan. Show some decency, if you can. Finally,… Read more »
You did not just equate a young person losing their father to someone having ’emotional issues’ because they lost a race, and then followed that with ‘show some decency’.
H*ly sh*t man.
Calm down and get some perspective.
No, I did not. But you did
Do the Australians just troll this site? Sure seems that way.
I don’t believe these people realise psychology is like 50% of racing. It’s not exclusive to Regan.
Also, it’s funny they question Kaylee’s own assessment of her fitness and training like they know more than she does.
No one said it’s exclusive to Regan, but circumstances and personal disposition have on impact on how different people deal with it. Kaylee will surely not be fully transparent will she.
Incredible swim
Great swimming by both ladies. As they have both said, they push each other to new PBs and therefore world marks every time they race. We should enjoy every second of their speed, skill and determination as this kind of mutually respected rivalry does not happen all of the time.
Regan said she would be happy with a 1:58 or 1:59. I don’t think she was expecting 1:57 or to swim 1:57 and come in second! Bittersweet? Break the WR only to be owned by GOAT McKeown. Can it get any better than this?!
Maybe she can get that 1:58 or 1:59 at the next race?
👑 to Kaylee
GOAT
Injured and struggling with underwaters and in an unfavourable time zone and still comes out with the win and WR. What can’t she do?