2025 AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Monday, April 21st – Thursday, April 24th
- Prelims at 10am local (8pm ET night before)/Finals at 6pm local (4am ET)
- Brisbane Aquatic Centre, Queensland, Australia
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview
- Initial Entries
- Start List
- Live Results
- Livestream
- Day 1 Prelims Recap | Day 1 Finals Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Recap | Day 2 Finals Recap
During the second finals session of the 2025 Australian Open, Kaylee McKeown delivered a strong performance in the women’s 100 backstroke final. She improved upon her own world-leading time of 57.73 from the New South Wales State Open Championships in late March, notching a new mark of 57.65.
McKeown opened 0.13 slower through the first 50 tonight, compared to her swim last month, but closed more than two-tenths faster. Below is a full splits comparison between her two world-leading swims, in addition to her 57.33 personal best set at the 2023 World Cup, when she broke the world record that has since been claimed by American Regan Smith, as well as her performance in the 2024 Olympic final.
Splits Comparison:
| McKeown’s Performance Tonight | McKeown’s Former World Leading Performance | McKeown’s 2024 Olympic Performance | McKeown’s Former World Record | |
| First 50m | 28.29 | 28.16 | 28.08 | 28.15 |
| Second 50m | 29.36 | 29.57 | 29.25 | 29.18 |
| Total Time | 57.65 | 57.73 | 57.33 | 57.33 |
Remarkably, McKeown’s 57.65 from this session was faster than anyone else in last July’s Olympic final, where she won gold with a time of 57.33. Team USA’s Smith, who broke the world record at the U.S. Trials with a time of 57.13, posted a 57.66 at the Games to take silver.
McKeown’s time tonight represents her 11th-fastest performance ever in the event, having now broken 58 seconds on 23 different occasions.
When asked about her performance, McKeown said, “It’s good. You know, you’ve got to be realistic. And, you know, this time of year, people are just gearing up for Trials and then onto Worlds.”
Reflecting on her downtime after the 2024 season, McKeown was asked what the most fun thing she did during her break was. She replied, “I think just being with family and friends. We take it for granted. They supported me through a lot, so it was just nice to spend time with them and actually be a normal human for once.”
When asked if she’s feeling refreshed after the Olympic year, she added, “Look, it’s been hard getting back in. I’m not going to beat around the bush. It’s really hard to go from such a high level back down to rock bottom. But, you know, I believe that it builds character and makes you stronger. So LA’s [the 2028 Olympics] looking good.”
Current World Rankings:
- Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 57.65 (4/22)*
- Regan Smith (USA) – 58.64 (3/8)
- Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) – 58.97 (2/8)
- Wan Letian (CHN) – 59.06 (3/22)
- Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 59.23 (4/22)
Last year, McKeown ranked 1st in the world in two events and 2nd in three others. She led the global rankings in the 50 back (27.07) and 200 back (2:03.30), while situating herself 2nd in the 100 back (57.33), 200 IM (2:06.63), and 400 IM (4:28.22). In addition to the aforementioned 100 back, the Australian star successfully defended her title in the 200 back at the Olympics, once again defeating her main challenger, Smith, when it mattered most. McKeown also earned a bronze in the 200 IM, adding two relay medals for a total of five individual and team medals in Paris.
Australia has some amazing swimmers at the moment (Arianne, Mollie, Chalmers and ZSC) however Kaylee is someone truly special. Our most successful individual swimmer (4 individual Olympic titles) and she is showing no signs of slowing. She changes coach and still knocks out a 57.6 without a taper- incredible. She is also coming to her peak ages in the next few years, that 56.9 is calling her.
I know we’re used to Kaylee swimming fast all the time but this is her 3rd fastest untapered swim of all time. And sounds like it was slower than she expected.
Trials is in Adelaide which is Australia’s fastest pool. Hoping a PB might be on the cards!
it’s the greatest head to head showdown in our sport & right now kaylee is ali & reg is frazier – going on 6 years since reg last won an individual major over kaylee back in gwangju in 2019. what a wonderful four years we’ve got to look forward to anytime these two superstars in their absolute prime face off – reg knows you wanna be the best you got to beat the best.
Wash, rinse, repeat. The girl is just a baller!
Kaylee is the Queen Backstroke
Can’t wait for another summer where McKeown crushes Bob “my swimmers can finish races” Bowman trained Regan Smith on the back half to win another World Championship title.
Feel like a lot of people probably live rent free in your head
He’s just a troll, don’t mind him.
Yeah, but he’s an Aussie troll. That makes him a good troll. In any case, he’s a colossal improvement on all the Smith and McIntosh marks that infest Australian swimming news threads.
I doubt he’s Aussie, he was all over the NCAA articles. Just seems to hate Bowman and his swimmers.
Not Aussie, just point out the truth. Smith is a choke artist.
Nah, she’s super good. Kaylee is just better. Not being #1 doesn’t mean you’re trash.
Notice how you did not say I am wrong. Thanks for confirming.
i mean to be fair regan is much better at closing her races than most americans — it just happens that she has to race against someone whos even better at closing her races lol. but i am rooting for kaylee tho, just for the stats 😛
Green McKweon breaks 57 first, Red Smith
Expecting her to be close to 57.13 or even breaking it at trials. Her consistency is too good for any competitor
downvote my comment all you want…but even regan fans know this true. even regan herself
I always downvote complaints about downvotes
Yes you are spot on, she is in fine form and close enough in heavy training right now.