2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
- June 15-23, 2024
- Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IN
- LCM (50 Meters)
- Session Start Times (ET):
- 11 a.m. Prelims
- 7:45 p.m. Finals (varying based on broadcast needs)
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam’s Definitive Guide to Trials
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- SwimSwam Pick ’em Contest
- Prelims Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5
- Finals Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
- Final Live Stream
Regan Smith just keeps breaking records. Only 24 hours removed from reclaiming the 100 backstroke world record in a blistering 57.13, Smith took down the 200 butterfly championship record in semifinals.
Smith already owned this record; she set the mark at 2:05.79 back at 2023 U.S. Nationals to qualify for the World Championships. In the first semifinal in Indianapolis, she lowered the record by .88 seconds, speeding to a 2:04.91.
Smith took the race out hard, under her own American record pace. She was out in 27.62, and made the turn at the halfway point in 59.01. Emma Sticklen hung with her through the first half of the race, but Smith shook her off with a 32.69 on the third 50. She turned in a field-best 33.21 on the last 50 meters, powering into the wall and stopping the clock at 2:04.91 for the new record and lane 4 in tomorrow night’s final.
Through all three of her events this week, Smith has been notably strong on the back half. Last night, she upped her tempo in the closing meters of her world record swim, allowing her to finish strong and get under Kaylee McKeown‘s standard. And in the 100 butterfly final, she had what seems to be the first sub-29 second 50 split (28.94), nearly running down Torri Huske for 2nd place.
Split Comparison: Championship Records
| 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Semifinal | 2023 U.S. Nationals – Final | |
| 50 | 27.62 | 27.97 |
| 100 | 59.01 (31.39) | 59.08 (31.11) |
| 150 | 1:31.70 (32.69) | 1:31.74 (32.66) |
| 200 | 2:04.91 (33.21) | 2:05.79 (34.05) |
Indeed, it was that final 50 tonight that made the difference for her cracking her championship record tonight as she swam it .84 seconds faster than she did in 2023.
Smith will get another chance at her American record during tomorrow night’s final. She does have the 200 fly final/200 backstroke semifinal double tomorrow, but the 200 fly is the first final of the evening.
