Paris Olympics, Day 7: Kaylee McKeown Outduels Regan Smith in 200 Back in OR
Regan Smith has been posting best times and set American records here in Paris during the Olympics. But try as she might, the American can’t seem to find a way to beat Kaylee McKeown in an individual race.
McKeown extended her dominion yet again Friday night at the Paris La Defense Arena, posting an Olympic record of 2:03.73 to repeat as Olympic champ in the 200 backstroke and earn a second straight Olympic backstroke double.
Only five women had done the backstroke double at an Olympics – Diana Mocanu in 2000, Krisztina Egerszegi in 1992, East Germany’s Rica Reinisch in the boycotted 1980 Games and Ulrike Richter in 1976 and America’s Melissa Belote in 1972. Now McKeown has done it twice.
- World record: Kaylee McKeown, Australia, 2:03.14 (2023)
- Olympic record: Missy Franklin, USA, 2:04.06 (2012)
- Tokyo Olympic champion: Kaylee McKeown, Australia, 2:04.68
McKeown said that “not in a million years” would she have dreamt of four gold medals. The medal is McKeown’s fifth gold and sixth overall. She still has the 200 individual medley and the medley relay to go this week.
Her celebration of that fact centered more on appreciation for the people who’ve helped her get there.
“I couldn’t ask for much more, to be honest with you, having that motivation and seeing those girls – not just the Aussies girls but the whole world in female sports has been unreal this year,” she said. “I’m just grateful to be a part of it.”
It came at the expense of Smith, the one-time world record holder in the event. She attacked the swim early and held on for silver in 2:04.26, but just didn’t have the kick coming home to get past McKeown.
- Meet Results
- 2024 Paris Olympics Meet Page
- Women’s 200 backstroke prelims
- Women’s 200 backstroke semifinals
Smith, for her part, is plenty satisfied with her swim, which led to a third individual silver of the meet.
“I have absolutely no control over what my competitors are doing,” Smith said. “I think that’s a damn good swim on my part. I think that’s exactly how it could’ve gone. If I could’ve gotten the gold, great, but it’s out of my control. I think 2:04.2 is a damn good swim.”
Kylie Masse took the swim out fast, then held off a charge over the last 50 meters from Phoebe Bacon. Masse won bronze in 2:05.57, Bacon off the podium by four agonizing hundredths.
Masse won silver in Tokyo. Friday’s is her fifth career medal and it caps a faith-testing quadrennial for the Canadian mainstay that included, among other challenges, shifting her training base from her home country to Spain.
“I think maybe it feels a bit more like rewarding and gratifying to know that I faced more challenges leading into these Games than I did before,” Masse said. “So just knowing that I was able to again continue to show up and trust in my training and trusting what I chose to do and believe in myself.”
The lead changed twice early. Masse was first at 50 meters, under world record pace. Smith took the lead at the 100 (McKeown was third) and turned for home .18 to the good on McKeown. But the renowned finisher steadily stroked away on the final length, Smith trying to mount a charge but not being able to match the Aussies’ speed.
“I probably took my race out a little too hard. I was pretty nervous going out there tonight,” McKeown said. “I’m not one who gets overly nervous – more anxious than anything – but I went out hard and just held on for dear life.”
The field in the 200 back has been remarkably resilient. McKeown, Masse, Peng Xuwei and Bacon were all part of the last Olympic final plus at least one World Championships final since. That event in Tokyo featured Bacon and Rhyan White for the U.S., with Smith not qualifying out of Trials. Smith won silver at the 2023 World Championships.
Great Britain’s Katie Shanahan got fifth place from an outside lane in 2:07.53. Peng was sixth.
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What about Missy Franklin?