2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 23 to 30, 2023
- Fukuoka, Japan
- Marine Messe Fukuoka
- LCM (50m)
- WORLD CHAMPS WATCH PARTY – DAILY
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Entry Book
- Live Results (Omega)
- Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Live Recap | Day 3 Finals Live Recap
After being DQed in the semi-finals of the women’s 200 IM at the 2023 World Championships, Kaylee McKeown bounced back to win her first-ever World Championships gold in the 100 back. She clocked a time of 57.53, which beat Regan Smith‘s championship record time of 57.57 from 2019. Her time was also the fourth-fastest performance of all-time.
All-Tim Top Performances, Women’s 100 Back:
- Kaylee McKeown, Australia — 57.45 (2021)
- Kaylee McKeown, Australia — 57.47 (2021)
- Kaylee McKeown, Australia — 57.50 (2023)
- Kaylee McKeown, Australia — 57.53 (2023)
- Regan Smith, United States — 57.57 (2019)
In McKeown’s race, she had flipped 0.05 seconds behind Regan Smith at the 50-meter mark, but then out-split Smith 29.50 to 29.83 on the final 50.
Compared to her world record, McKeown was out 0.07 faster, but her back half was 0.15 slower. She has consistently gotten the best of Smith in 100 back races because of her back half.
Comparative Splits:
| Kaylee McKeown, 2023 World Championships (new Championship Record) | Regan Smith, 2019 World Championships (old Championship Record) | Kaylee McKeown, 2021 Australian Trials (World Record) | |
| 50m | 28.03 | 27.74 | 28.10 |
| 100m | 29.50 | 29.83 | 29.35 |
| Total | 57.53 | 57.57 | 57.45 |
On Sunday, McKeown had been DQed from the semi-final of the 200 IM because she was rotated onto her side too early during the backstroke leg of her race. She came into the meet as the third overall seed, and her personal best time of 2:07.19 was just 0.02 seconds off of Kate Douglass‘s winning time.
McKeown still has the 50 and 200 back left to race individually at Worlds.
Smith has not beat McKeown in a 100/200bk head-to-head since the 2019 200 bk final
I read somewhere that she was going 26’s in LCM 50 backstrokes in practice? Anyone know if that’s legit
I think that was 2 years ago. Legit we think
Who knows. But this is the first time she’s swimming the 50 while on her Tokyo form so I wouldn’t rule out a 26 tomorrow
It was at the staging camp before Tokyo.
On coaches watch where they get 26.8 but it’s actually 27.3? Sure.
Respect to her. She had a great race and an amazing last 25 meters. I was rooting for Regan but the best woman took it.
In Fukuoka, McKeown astounds,
A World Championships record, she’s crowned,
With speed in her wake,
In the 100 back, she takes,
Australia’s pride, glory renowned!
at least you got 4 likes. I got one and 8 dislikes.
Your table has the wrong time for the Championship record.
If not for the DQ, she would have broken WR and $30k richer.
Ummm thats a very bold statement.
I meant WR in 100 back.
Without DQ drama, she may have won 100 back in WR.
she def could’ve challenged for gold but no way she’s dropping over a second
I meant WR in 100 back.
Without DQ drama, she may have won 100 back in WR.
I don’t think she breaks the IM WR, but the DQ affected her a lot emotionally and mentally according to her. If the DQ doesn’t happen does she go 0.09 faster in the 100 back for a new WR? I think she very likely does.
Yes that’s exactly what I meant.
Not 200IM WR, but 100 back WR
Good for her to bounce back from what must have been a very frustrating dq.
Wow, she probably would’ve won 2 IM too
no. She is no match for Kate head to head in freestyle.
To do so, she would have had to do something she didn’t do today — set a PB.
Regardless, she lost to Walsh straight up last summer. What makes you think it would have been different this time — with either Douglass or Walsh?
I’m not saying she would have won gold but she was 0.03 off her backstroke SB after being the face of a ridiculous drama that obviously affected her. Her SB for IM would have destroyed Walsh’s time and a 0.07 PB would have beaten Douglass. Maybe Douglass swims slower when she isn’t basically guaranteed a gold because the best performers were missing.
Lots of very obvious reasons that it would have been different tbh