2021 SYDNEY OPEN
- Thursday, May 13th – Sunday, May 16th
- Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre
- LCM (50m)
- Heats at 6pm local; Finals at 9am local
- Meet Site
- Start List
- SwimSwam Preview
- Results or Meet Mobile
19-year-old Kaylee McKeown already turned heads last night at this 2021 Sydney Open, firing off a night prelim time of 2:05.55 in the women’s 200m back. However, the USC Spartan was just getting the party started, as the teen ripped a new lifetime best of 2:04.31 to check-in with a new Australian national record.
McKeown recently set the Australian national standard at the 2:04.49 she posted last November in Queensland. That result just months ago not only laid waste to her previous career-quickest of 2:05.83 , but it marked the first time an Aussie woman has ever gotten under the 2:05 barrier in the event.
Here in Sydney, McKeown further proved that result was anything but a fluke, slicing another .18 off of her record en route to topping the podium. In doing so, McKeown remains the #3 200m backstroke of all-time.
Note that splits for McKeown’s new record are not available at time of publishing.
Top Women’s LCM 200 Back Performers All-Time
- Regan Smith (USA), 2:03.35 2019
- Missy Franklin (USA), 2:04.06 2012
- Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2:04.31 2021
- Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), 2:04.81 2009
- Anastasia Fesikova (RUS), 2:04.94 2009
McKeown remains atop the world rankings for the season, owning the only time under 2:05 in the world.
2020-2021 LCM Women 200 Back
McKeown
2:04.28
| 2 | Kylie Masse | CAN | 2:05.42 | 07/31 |
| 3 | Margherita Panziera | ITA | 2:05.56 | 03/31 |
| 4 | Rhyan White | USA | 2:05.73 | 06/19 |
| 5 | Emily Seebohm | AUS | 2:06.17 | 07/31 |
McKeown took silver in this 2back event at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships behind World Record-setter Regan Smith of the United States. Smith hit 2:03.69 for gold after producing a WR of 2:03.35 in the semifinals while McKeown posted 2:06.26 for silver in Gwangju.
There is a very real argument to be made that McKeown is now favourite. She could be *the* star of Tokyo.
oh, please. Regan has a second over her best time, does not even have to fully taper for Olympic Trials to make the team, and will be fully tapered for Olympics. McKeown isn’t going to do a 2:01, and that’s what it will take to beat her. The Aussies never drop significant time at the Olympics.
Screenshotting this for posterity
I have no doubt Regan will drop significantly, but the fact is, on 2020/2021 form, she *needs* to drop significantly.
Chalmers did in winning the 100 free at 18 years old, King Kyle.
LOL
Just went 58.14 in heat . On fire 🔥
Never been done 9 hours after a 2mins.4.3 200.
58 low becoming routine for her. 😮
Also first time under a minute for Wilson since 2017.
Will she swim IMs at this meet? I’m more interested to see how fast she could go in 200 & 400 IM.
Only the 200 IM which is on Saturday (prelims).
More interested…is a 2:04 AND 58.14 at a minor meet not interesting enough!
I mean… we already know she can go 2:04 and 57 in backstrokes (not saying these times are not impressive anymore), but I think it’s likely we still haven’t seen her full potential in the IMs. If I remember correctly, her current 2 IM pb was done in the same session with a 2:05 2 back.
I agree with you. The 400 IM was also set after going 57 in 100 back. Given her individual stroke PBs it seems like both the IMs should be faster.
Seebohm swam a 2:07.0 in the same race.
It looks like it’s a battle between the Aussies, Canadians and Americans plus Panziera of Italy.
I wonder what’s happened to Minna Atherton .. she seems to have dropped off this season.. not a good season to drop off
Saving herself for trials maybe, who knows could be injured?
Niceee let’s see if regan will answer back. She looked like she had some speed in thag 2 fly Hope her 100/200 back is good
Whatever happens- we have a race on our hands in 2 months! 🙂
Sure do
Exactly, Smith v McKeown, probably the 2 most in form female swimmers go head to head.
Right!! And they can probably both handle their share of events and drop because they’re young. It’ll be really interesting
Kaylee has been in form since November across Back & IM. Regan had promising fly in 2020 but her best back is back in 2019. Tomorrow may be different but we can only work on what is now , so no .
If you call a body-length win a “race” in the 200.
Even more! 🤯
Yeah 100 back is going to be very interesting to watch now.
Both of the backstrokes for that matter