Regan Smith Resets 100 Backstroke American Record for the Second Time In Less Than A Month
By Sophie Kaufman on SwimSwam
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
Broadcast Info
SwimSwam’s Definitive Guide to Trials
Psych Sheets
Live Results
SwimSwam Preview Index
SwimSwam Pick ’em Contest
Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
Finals Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
Just before the second heat of semifinalists began to parade onto the deck in Lucas Oil, the camera found Regan Smith. Bundled up in her signature mittens, Smith gave the camera a big smile and waved. She looked completely at ease.
It was just the calm before the storm. Smith ran away with her semifinal, blazing a 57.47 to knock off the 57.51 American record she swam at an in-season tune up less than a month ago. That record was a big moment for Smith as she bettered the standard she set leading off the relay at the 2019 World Championships–her breakout meet.
Now, Smith has lowered her lifetime best by a full tenth, with a final swim still to come tomorrow night.
Split Comparison:
2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Semifinal
2024 NOVA Speedo Grand Challenge
2019 World Championships
50
28.02
28.11
27.74
100
29.45
29.40
29.83
57.47
57.51
57.57
Smith flipped in 28.02, .13 seconds under Kaylee McKeown‘s world record pace. She made a final push in the closing meters, though she couldn’t quite keep pace with McKeown’s closing speed. It was the front end speed that made the difference for her compared to her old American record though.
Smith remains the second-fastest performer in the history of the event and this swim ties McKeown’s performance from the Tokyo Games as 4th fastest all-time.
Top Five 100 Back Performances All-Time (LCM)
Kaylee McKeown, 57.33 — 2023 World Cup, Budapest
Kaylee McKeown, 57.41 — 2024 Australian Trials
Kaylee McKeown, 57.45 — 2021 Australian Trials
Kaylee McKeown/Regan Smith, 57.47 — 2021 Olympics/2024 U.S Trials
Smith has maintained her position ahead of an increasingly competitive field, where it took 59.33 to make tomorrow night’s final. She did so just one day removed from becoming the third fastest American in the 100 butterfly with a 55.62 for 3rd.
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