Regan Smith Focusing on Rebuilding Herself as a New Swimmer

2022 U.S. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS

(Sorry about the audio, mic was acting funky tonight)

Reported by Anne Lepesant.

WOMEN’S 100 METER BACKSTROKE – FINALS

  • World Record: 57.45 – Kaylee McKeown (2021)
  • American Record: 57.57 – Regan Smith (2019)
  • US Open Record: 57.92 – Regan Smith (2021)
  • Jr World Record: 57.57 – Regan Smith (2019)
  • FINA “A” Cut: 1:00.59
  • SwimSwam Preview – W100 Back

Podium:

  1. Regan Smith, Unattached – 57.76
  2. Claire Curzan, TAC Ttitans – 58.39
  3. Rhyan White, Alabama – 58.59
  4. Katharine Berkoff, NC State – 58.61
  5. Isabelle Stadden, Unattached – 59.16
  6. Olivia Smoliga, Sun Devils – 59.29
  7. Phoebe Bacon, Unattached – 59.56
  8. Amy Fulmer, Ohio State – 1:00.48

Regan Smith looked like a woman on a mission. The World Record-holder went out like a shot and led the field from wire to wire. She flipped at 28.06, .26 ahead of Rhyan White and Claire Curzan and half a second ahead of Katharine Berkoff and Isabelle Stadden, at the 50 wall.

Smith continued her pace over the second half of the race, outsplitting everyone with the only sub-30 on the back half. She came to the wall in a blazing 57.76, winning by half a body length and taking down the U.S. Open Record, which she had set in 2021 with 57.92.

Behind her, Curzan had a stellar second 50, going 30.07 to separate herself from White. Curzan took second place with 58.39, while White successfully held off a strong charge from Berkoff. Berkoff came home two-tenths faster than White, but fell just short of third place, 58.59 to 58.61.

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Peaty55Paris
2 years ago

Fantastic swimmer and person

Last edited 2 years ago by Peaty55Paris
Former swimmer
2 years ago

I love her. She’s so easy to root for.

Swimmerj
2 years ago

What a fantastic person to represent our country.

Pool
2 years ago

Regan is so humble and sweet. She is a fabulous role model. She has a bright future

Steve Nolan
2 years ago

That’s a great perspective. We all know (or heck, are ourselves) a swimmer who had a huge best time in something and just took forever to get back to that level, even if you’re notably improving everywhere.

Just so happens it happened to her when she was in high school and those swims were world records.

She’s very much on the right path to getting back there in the 2 back. (Because she has been better in pretty much…all her other events.)

Last edited 2 years ago by Steve Nolan
Ferb
Reply to  Steve Nolan
2 years ago

Ryan Hoffer comes to mind.

Teamwiess
2 years ago

What a great attitude. In particular, I am happy with her thoughts about the 200 back. It was a great swim. In controlling what she could, she did well. It does say she can get back to her 203 but she just wont swim it at worlds. On a side note, with Tori and Claire going 1-2 in the 100 free/100 fly and Claire getting second in the 100 back, either Berkoff or White will get a 100 back swim at worlds leading off the prelims 400 medley relay.

SakiBomb25
2 years ago

Love how positive she is and she is looking at this as a process and not the end result. This will make her a stronger and better swimmer and can’t wait to see what she does moving forward.

DCSwim
2 years ago

She has such great vibes. She’s a great swimmer and is becoming a great role model for others!

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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