Records continued to fall on the second night of finals at the Berlin World Cup. Three World Cup records went down in three straight events, including the women’s 100 backstroke World Cup record. World record holder Kaylee McKeown blasted 57.95, erasing the old record of 58.34, set by fellow Australian Emily Seebohm in 2015.
Kaylee McKeown going sub-58 in the 100 back. #SWC23 pic.twitter.com/nN3nXzrBlW
— Paul Griffin (@PGriffinFC) October 7, 2023
Courtesy: Paul Griffin (via Twitter)
McKeown was out first at the 50-meter mark; she flipped in 28.58, three-tenths ahead of Maaike de Waard. She rocketed home on the final 50, extending her lead and becoming the only woman in the field to break 1:00. McKeown split 29.37 on her second 50, which is the 4th fastest 100 backstroke second 50 of all-time.
Women’s 100 Back, Top 10 Fastest Back-Half Splits
| Rank | Swimmer | 2nd 50 Split | Final Time | Meet |
| 1 | Kaylee McKeown | 29.23 | 57.50 | 2023 Australian Trials |
| 2 | Kaylee McKeown | 29.27 | 57.47 | Tokyo Olympics |
| 3 | Kaylee McKeown | 29.35 | 57.45 | 2021 Australian Olympic Trials |
| 4 | Kaylee McKeown | 29.37 | 57.95 | 2023 World Cup — Berlin |
| 5 | Kaylee McKeown | 29.39 | 57.63 | 2021 Sydney Open |
| 5 | Regan Smith | 29.39 | 57.64 | Tokyo Olympics |
| 7 | Kaylee McKeown | 29.41 | 57.91 | 2023 Worlds |
| 7 | Gemma Spofforth | 29.41 | 58.12 | 2009 Worlds |
| 7 | Kaylee McKeown | 29.41 | 58.11 | 2020 Queensland Meet |
| 10 | Kaylee McKeown | 29.44 | 58.01 | Tokyo Olympics |
McKeown is no stranger to this list–she now holds eight of the top ten times. That’s unsurprising, given how strong of a closer she is in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. However, it is interesting to see that back-half speed show up so early in the season. Here in Berlin, she was just .02 off her split from when she set the world record, and the other two splits ahead of that swim are also from times she swam 57-mid.
Her final time of 57.95 was also just half a second off her world record.
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she’s out for blood. 56 high is achievable for her.
27.79+29.20=56.99
Seems doable
I really don’t understand why Swimswam wrote the following when Kaylee Mackeown, Sarah Sjostrom, Siobhan Haughey, and Zhang Yufei swim World Cup:
“Also in the mix to contest the podium is American Torri Huske, who is taking a redshirt year from NCAA swimming and is entered in the 50/100/200 freestyles as well as 50/100 fly and 200 IM. If Huske can show off the form that she had in 2022, she could easily contest for not only the titles in Berlin but also the overall World Cup title.”
https://swimswam.com/5-storylines-some-bonuses-to-watch-at-the-1st-aqua-world-cup-stop-berlin/
Huske never had any chance to begin with the four swimmers I mentioned are participating.
I knew Ingrid was tall but didn’t know she was that tall until I saw her standing alongside Kaylee and Kylie in the post-race interview.
A 57 when she’s only been back to training a couple of weeks is insane. I desperately just want her to find that extra 0.1 in the 50 to become (I believe) the first ever swimmer to hold all 3 LCM backstroke records.
Has she really only been back in training a couple of weeks?
That’s what she told an interviewer. I guess she could be lying but why would she?
https://www.worldaquatics.com/news/3725588/flash-quotes-day-1-swimming-world-cup-berlin-2023
Epecifically: a few weeks (4/5?)
Not couple. She have been to train for long time
Ok yeah a “few” instead of a couple. Even so, a “few” has never meant more than 3 to me.
I see what you are saying but the 50 doesn’t really matter when you are the WR holder in 100/200.
I can see that… but there’s really nothing else left for her to achieve so we need new things.
100 Back
-Olympic Champion
-WR Holder
-LCM Champion
-SCM Champion
200 Back
-Olympic Champion
-WR Holder
-LCM Champion
-SCM Champion
Like literally the only things left for her to do are repeat the Olympic double, break her own WRs or break the 50 WR.
Project 56? 🙂
My #1 priority would be getting the double double in Paris (which I don’t think has been done by a woman before?)
Yana Klochkova did the double double but yes I agree that Olympic wins mean more than times.
Oh she got the medley double double. I was specifically talking about backstroke.
I know Roland Matthes did the double double but he’s the only one I know of
and add the 200 IM
she wont beat kate d in the 2 IM. Nor can she beat Summer.