Regan Smith Takes Down Pro Swim Series Record with 58.2 100 Back

2020 PRO SWIM SERIES – KNOXVILLE

Teenage backstroke stars Regan Smith and Phoebe Bacon, both 17, stepped up to race for the 100 back title on night 3 of the 2020 Pro Swim Series in Knoxville. Smith took the edge on the front half, which made all the difference in the race between them, to win it in 58.26. Bacon followed with a 58.86, just a couple of tenths shy of her lifetime best.

Splits (Smith/Bacon):

  • 1st 50: 28.36/28.95
  • 2nd 50: 29.90/29.91
  • Final Time: 58.26/58.86

Smith is the fastest 100 backstroker in history. She set the World Record on the women’s 4×100 medley relay leadoff at 2019 Worlds with the first ever sub-58. Tonight’s swim was Smith’s 2nd fastest performance ever in this event.

Bacon is hundredths away from cracking the all-time top 10. She’s currently the 11th fastest performer in history. This was her 2nd time ever breaking 59 seconds in this event.

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ERVINFORTHEWIN
4 years ago

Predicted a solid 58.4 !!! She is unstoppable allready in January with a 58.2 !!

swimmy
4 years ago

Better Swim Today:
Upvote: Smith 58.2 100 Back
Downvote: Seto 1:52.5 200 Fly
Comment: Seto 1:55.5 200 IM

Samesame
Reply to  swimmy
4 years ago

Comment

Coach Mike 1952
4 years ago

Excuse me, I believe there is an error in Phoebe’s splits, they add up to a 59+ not a 58+.

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
4 years ago

Oops, read it across not down, earlier my bad, earlier comment withdrawn

HonestObserver
4 years ago

One of the nicer things that’s happened in swimming recently is that two of the swimmers making the biggest splashes recently have been Regan Smith, at 5′ 7″, and Daiya Seto, who’s listed at 5′ 9″ (and I’d guess he’s actually an inch shorter than that). We all know height is a great advantage, but the fact that these two have been on fire recently shows all young swimmers that it’s not an absolute necessity. (And yes, at 5’7″, Smith is above average height, but compared to most of her world class competitors, she looks downright short.)

Virtus
Reply to  HonestObserver
4 years ago

Pretty sure king is pretty short too

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Virtus
4 years ago

King is short indeed , Smoliga much taller

BairnOwl
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
4 years ago

That moment when you realize being almost 5’9” (King’s listed height) as a female counts as short. Smoliga is 6’2”, wow.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  HonestObserver
3 years ago

Let’s see …… Janet Evans – 5 ft 5 in

JKKH
4 years ago

I much prefer this Smith’s splits over her world record splits of 27.74/29.83, which shows me she has the ability to split more evenly instead of going out so fast.

Devin
Reply to  JKKH
4 years ago

Are you critiquing her incredibly dominant WR because you dont like the splitting

Swimpop
Reply to  JKKH
4 years ago

Slower = preferred, ok Boomer.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  JKKH
4 years ago

no , her WR splits were insane …..nobody could follow after 35 meters ……it was already Game over

Sven
4 years ago

Could be a young podium in Tokyo.

Mom
4 years ago

She’s insane! I doubt she’s even close to tapered.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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