Two-time World Champion and three-time World record holder Regan Smith is shouldering her way through the pandemic remaining positive. She even swam a 52 100 yard fly and a 1:54 200 yard fly during an intrasquad meet at her club, Riptide, July 24th 2020. Considering she raced in a practice suit and dropped those swims in the morning, that’s promising.
In this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast, the big news is Regan’s recent announcement to take a gap year from college. Regan opens up about her decision. She clearly wanted to go to Stanford this fall, but with the recent announcement that the PAC 12 is postponing all fall sports, Regan’s looking like a prophet.
Regan gets her swim nerd cap on in this episode. We cover a lot of topics, and I selfishly dive deep on butterfly. We talk about backstroke, but after her 100-200 LCM butterfly swims at the Pro Swim Series early this year, I wanted to get inside her head a bit about butterfly.
Regan said she would come back on the show again. If you have questions, share them here.
Follow Regan Smith on Instagram here (@ReganSmith4).
Follow Gold Medal Mel Stewart on Instagram here.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
In a news article last year right after Regan Smith won the 200 back, swimming world magazine did an article on her performance and interview her coach Mike parrotto (Jenny Thompson former coach) and he believes that Regan Smith has untapped potential in the fly events (we already knew this) and in the 200 free at the national level.
I still honestly believe that at last year’s world championships ragan Smith should have given the opportunity to lead off the 800 free relay. I think she could have gone faster than Simone Manuel (no disrespect on Simone she swam a fantastic time 1:56.00) I’m going off of what Missy Franklin did at Shanghai 2011 (she let off the prelims… Read more »
There is no proof to your claim.
Regan Smith’s best time in the women’s 200 meter freestyle during calendar year 2019 was 1:58.44. The SwimSwam staff can confirm the aforementioned time. Regan Smith’s best time in the women’s 200 meter freestyle during calendar year 2020 is 1:58.67.
Regan Smith did not even qualify for “A” final in the women’s 200 meter freestyle at the 2019 Toyota U.S. Open.
Regan Smith did not qualify for the “A” final in the women’s 200 meter freestyle at the 2019 Phillips 66 National Championships.
She should just go Pro, there probably not be Trials….and now restrictions on traveling for Olympics. USA won’t be going…she would have to take another four years off from school to train for the Olympics. She can always go to school.
So well-spoken and friendly! Easy to forget that so many swimmers, especially young swimmers, whose swims, records, college decisions, and futures are widely discussed are normal (ish) people like everyone else. Awesome to hear this interview from her.
I don’t really know Regan. I know her dad (from making requests for interviews over the years, for the mag, etc.). Coleman’s been interviewing her for years now, and I re-watched those interviews. I get the impression from recently watching a lot of Regan-media, she’s got an edge–in a very good way. I think we’re going to see more wow moments—like her 2:03 2-bk. That’s tough to top, a once-in-a-generation type swim. BUT, I think she’s got more of those in the tank. I’m wondering if they’ll happen in other events, like the 2-fly, or, in 2-3 years with some breaststroke dev, the 2-IM….
The American record in the women’s 200 meter butterfly would be something to behold.
Sure would, especially with Flick and Drabot slugging it out. You go girls!!!
…not sure why that comment was voted down…
…meaning, an AR is always welcome to see…
Very annoying, they downvote comments like “here is the link to…” or “congrats…” you guys should remove the downvoting feature.
Rowdy’s “have you ever!?” when she broke 2back WR said it all. Everything she has done since then has been very very good. A very mature young woman, great interview. We will see a lot of her in Tokyo and prior to that at Otrials. Since Stanford just announced today there will be no in-person classes this fall, her decision to elect a gap year looks prescient. Mel and Co. I personally will be watching whatever she swims, and I hope 2 fly is one of her events. IM? Possible, but she will need to time mature into that event…and yes, working to make a weakness a strength is what IM is all about.
The 200 I’m is the same season as the 100 back, unless she unleash a monster breaststroke she got to get through Madison cox (if she still swimming) Kathleen Baker (a solid contender for the Olympic gold), Melanie margalis (who’s very good on the breast stroke and freestyle) and Alex Walsh who dropped 2 seconds on her pr to go 2:09.00 gonna be a landmine to navigate for regan Smith
Calendar Year 2019
Women’s Event (LCM)
200 IM
Kozan – 2:11.55
Huske – 2:11.70
Kozan (DOB 30 Dec 2003) and Huske (DOB 07 Dec 2002) are both younger than Regan Smith.
Seriously, I thought Missy Franklin’s world record in the women’s 200 meter backstroke (2:04.06) was going to last for a long time.
As a footnote, Regan Smith’s time in the heats of the women’s 200 meter backstroke at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships would have won the gold medal.
There is another intrasquad meet tomorrow at her club but I don’t see her on the list in Meet Mobile 😰
…asking to see if she’s swimming…
Curious if she’ll swim the 100 free in trials to just get a relay slot, or if she’d be put on anyway. By next summer I’d suspect a 52 relay split would be very reasonable for her
Whoa, slow down there. I haven’t seen anything to suggest she will be splitting 52. Although this is mainly because she does not swim the 100 free regularly. But I doubt she swims it.
Slow down there is right. She may be fortunate just to make Team USA in one event. She faces enormous domestic competition. K. Baker, O. Smoliga, H. Flickinger, K. Drabot and many others not disappearing, and there are other young, non-intimidated stars emerging (P. Bacon beat her in a pre-pandemic race, K. Berkoff, etc). Remember great hs backstrokers with great coaches who missed Oly teams by slight margins? And there were Trials collapses of other hyped stars amidst big 2016 expectations in multiple events.
If I recall correctly, Regan Smith swam the women’s 200 meter freestyle prior to the women’s 100 meter backstroke in December. With the anticipated schedule for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (100 BK, 200 FL, 200 BK), Regan Smith is not expected to swim any doubles in the morning or the evening.
Yeah, right. Regan Smith set the TYR Pro Swim Series record in the women’s 100 backstroke with a time of 58.26 in January only to reset the TYR Pro Swim Series record in the women’s 100 meter backstroke with a time of 58.18 in March. The only record that Regan Smith does not own in the women’s 100 meter backstroke is the U.S. Open Record which should fall no later than the final of the women’s 100 meter backstroke at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Furthermore, I don’t remember Missy Franklin missing the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team after winning the women’s 200 meter backstroke at the 2011 FINA World Aquatics Championships.
Not sure what Missy Franklin has to do with Regan Smith, except that MF should probably come out of retirement and take her on.That being said, imho, R Smith should be focused on 200 Back alone as Baker-Bacon-Smoliga are breathing down her neck. Baker had a rough time of things for a bit physically, but when healthy she is beastly. Bacon is extremely strong and more athletic. Ditto Flickinger. With wrong multi-event focus, overconfidence, and OT variables, Smith could be swimming one Tokyo event or watching the Olympics on TV or internet.
Can you imagine….Hi Reagan, I know you hold the WR in the 100m back and are the only woman to have swam under 58 seconds in the event, but WATER, a commenter on SwimSwam, feels you should focus on the 200m backstroke.
Yeah, does seem a bit odd to give that advice to a young WR holder that’s still swimming best times year over year.
It is more likely that Regan Smith breaks the U.S. Open record (58.00) in the women’s 100 meter backstroke at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials than finish outside of the top two.
(that was a little bit funny…made me smile…)
Having watched Kathleen Baker swim in North Carolina for many years, I happen to agree that Regan Smith has her work cut out for her, and the advice of Water might actually be good advice. Baker was 0.3 secs off the top of the podium in 100 Back at 2016 Rio against an extremely strong, experienced opponent. The Olympic experience of Baker and Smoliga will mean something at crunch time.
Oh please! Kathleen Baker was a major disappointment in the women’s 100 meter backstroke (individual, medley relay) at the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. Kathleen Baker was nowhere to be found at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships.
Regan Smith has competed successfully in two World Championship meets (2017/2019) and the Pan Pac meet in 2018. She also swam at Olympic Trials in 2016. To suggest that Smoliga and Baker’s experience will trump hers is wishful thinking. No disrespect to either of them. They are very talented. But acting like the world record holder, by a LOT, needs to be fearful is wishful thinking. When has she EVER been afraid of this challenge? I don’t understand this thinking at all. If Regan Smith takes care of Regan Smith, she’ll be VERY hard to beat. Can she be beat when tapered and ready? Possibly. But should she exit stage left to focus on the 200? Obviously not. Just stop… Read more »
To even suggest that Regan Smith will not qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics is a complete joke. It’s funny how no one mentions Regan Smith’s time in the women’s 100 meter backstroke at the 2019 Counsilman Classic which (1) would won the gold medal in the women’s 100 meter backstroke at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships, (2) would have tied for the gold medal in the women’s 100 meter backstroke at the 2016 Rio Olympics, (3) was faster than any time posted by Kathleen Baker in the women’s 100 meter backstroke in calendar years 2019, 2020.
https://swimswam.com/smith-lowers-wjr-again-in-finals-iu-breaststroke-sweeps-at-counsilman-classsic/
What!!!!!!!!!
2019-2020 TYR Pro Swim Series – Knoxville
Women’s 100 meter backstroke
Smith – 58.26
Bacon – 58.86
https://youtu.be/bCPhKUhoTf4
The aforementioned time posted in women’s 100 meter backstroke is less than thirty minutes after swimming the women’s 200 meter butterfly.
Meanwhile, Olivia Smoliga’s personal best time in the women’s 100 meter backstroke is 58.73.
What!!!!!
2019-2020 TYR Pro Swim Series – Des Moines
Women’s 100 meter backstroke
Smith – 58.18
Baker – 58.56
Smoliga – 59.25
https://youtu.be/ufshCHyxqBg
Baker bounced, Smoliga smoked in the women’s 100 meter backstroke. Just like bowling pins, line ’em up and knock ’em down.
Kathleen Baker better worry about a sizzling Bacon in the women’s 100 meter backstroke.
The individual to watch in the women’s 100 meter freestyle going forward is Claire Curzan.
Personal Best Times
Women’s 100 meter freestyle
Manuel, Simone – 52.04
Comerford, Mallory – 52.59
Weitzeil, Abbey – 53.18
Brown, Erika – 53.42
Walsh, Gretchen – 53.74
Curzan, Claire – ??.??
The women’s 4 × 100 meter freestyle relay desperately needs a refresh with Brown, Walsh, and another teenager.
great potential for a Us squad that can put the Aussies in danger ….
With the emergence of Erika Brown and Gretchen Walsh in the women’s 100 meter freestyle, I doubt Regan Smith is even needed on the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay.
They have the silver medal on lockdown. That is what your saying?
You do realize that a 16 year old Gretchen Walsh split a 53.01 on the anchor leg in the women’s 4 x 100 meter medley relay at the 2019 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships? Meanwhile, Kelsi Dahlia split a 53.46 in the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships.
If Mallory Comerford returns to her form at the 2017 FINA World Aquatics Championships, the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay has tremendous potential.
Mallory Comerford
Women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay
Lead-off leg
2017 – 52.59
2019 – 52.98
Personal Best Times
Women’s 100 meter freestyle
Brown – 53.42 (07 Dec 2019)
Walsh – 53.74 (22 Aug 2019)
Schmitt – 53.80 (05 Mar 2020)
Dahlia – 53.87 (27 Jun 2017)
Oh sorry you meant the bronze medal? The aussies laugh at those times.
Speaking of bronze medals, neither C1 or C2 has even won an individual bronze medal in the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the Summer Olympics. Goose eggs galore!
And don’t forget about Ledecky – last year’s illness aside, she has swum some pretty fast 100 free times also.
2020 TYR Pro Swim Series #3 Des Moines
Women’s 100 meter freestyle
Heats
Smith – 55.64
Regan Smith did not even make the “B” cut.
http://www.swmeets.com/Realtime/Pro Series/2020/DesMoines/
Should’ve included this…for me Regan’s Des Moines Pro Swim 100 lcm fly and PB – 57.34 – and her 200 lcm fly and PB – 2:06.39 – were incredible in-season, unshaven swims, and they were dropped in early March right before COVID shutdown the world. While her 100-200 backs are on-point, her butterfly is coming on fast, and I’m trying to get my head around what she’s got in the butterfly tank for ’21 OTs, and beyond. She gave a lot context around her intrasquad 52 & 1:54 100&200y fly. I think she would’ve gone faster swimming them at night (rather than so early in the morning), getting her within range (despite being unsuited / unshaved) of her yards PBs… Read more »
Is she going to go out to the 100 fly at the Olympic trials? Personally I think with another year training she could be a frontrunner for that event
I think you’re right that she could be the front runner, but so far they’ve been generally very conservative with her competitions in general.
100 fly final conflicts with 100 back semi. Which is not a deal breaker. But that adds up to a lot of swims on the first 3 days of the meet if she tries to make the 800 free relay as well.
She could probably get away with it at Trials. But to what end – the Olympics are not going to be as forgiving in that regard.
The final of the 100 fly is the first event on day 2 while the semi-final of the 100 back is the second to last event to me there seems to be more than enough time to tackle both events, my only concern/dilemma is the 200fly is she gets down to a 155 in the 200 free next year will the coaches put her on the 800 relay? Or will coaches use her in the prelims still giving her 7 gold medals potentially 🤔🤔 (8 gold medals If she improves on her 100 free to a mid/low 53 and she is put on the 400 free relay even In the prelims)
That’s a helluva drop from a personal best of 1:58.44 in the women’s 200 meter freestyle.
That would be a brutal turnaround. Between the 200 fly final and the 800 FR, there is only the men’s 100 free final, the semis of the women’s 200 breast and men’s 200 IM. The 800 FR is right after the 200 fly medal ceremony.
Well they could use her in the prelims and not use her in the final (they could use 4 seperate women in the final, a complete swap) like when Australia did in Beijing when they won in world record
The following morning is the final of the women’s 200 meter butterfly. No need to expend energy for the heats of the women’s 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay.
https://tokyo2020.org/en/schedule/swimming-schedule
Erika Brown and Paige Madden both posted faster times in the women’s 200 meter freestyle at the 2019 Toyota U.S. Open than Regan Smith’s personal best.
2019 Toyota U.S. Open
Women’s 200 meter freestyle
Brown – 1:57.68
Madden – 1:58.09
DiRado and Ledecky swam three individual events at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Is there any technical aspect of Regan Smith’s butterfly stroke that Regan Smith needs to improve? Would you need USA Swimming’s Russell Mark to set an underwater camera system and analyze the tape?
Regan’s already been there, done that, many times, re: Russell Mark… but I’m sure she’s got her strokes under a microscope all the time.