FLASH! Regan Smith Pops Latest World Record in 100 Backstroke at World Cup in Singapore
One week after breaking the world record in the short-course version of the 100-meter backstroke during World Cup competition in South Korea, American Regan Smith took the event even lower during the second day of the World Cup series’ stop in Singapore.
One event after Frenchman Leon Marchand set a world record in the 200 individual medley, Smith clocked 54.27 to better her previous standard of 54.41.
Coming off an Olympic Games in Paris where she shined to the tune of silver medals in three individual events and gold medals in a pair of relays, Smith has been a force in the short-course pool. In her latest record-breaking outing, Smith attacked the 100 backstroke from the start and was under her world-record pace throughout the event. She split 12.72 at the 25-meter mark, touched inn 26.06 at the midway point and turned at the 75-meter wall in 39.94. That early speed was enough to get Smith to her newest world record. She took the mark set in September by Kaylee McKeown at the Australian Short-Course Championships.
A look at the recent splits:
- Regan Smith, Singapore: 12.72 – 13.34 (26.06) – 13.88 – 14.33 (28.21) – 54.27
- Regan Smith, Incheon: 12.96 – 13.71 (26.67) – 13.83 – 13.91 (27.74) – 54.41
- Kaylee McKeown, Adelaide: 12.82 – 13.87 (26.69) – 13.90 – 13.87 (27.77) – 54.56
- Minna Atherton, 2019: 26.52 – 28.37 – 54.89
It was fitting that Marchand and Smith set world records in back-to-back events, as both are coached by Bob Bowman. The pair should reunite for training in early 2025, when Marchand heads to Austin and joins Bowman’s group at the University of Texas. He has been training in France since returning from his Olympic break.
Smith is on the Team USA roster for the upcoming World Short Course Championships, which are scheduled for Budapest in December.