17-year-old Regan Smith was named to TIME Magazine’s 100 Next list for her performance at the 2019 World Championships this summer. Smith broke two world records in the 200 and 100 backstroke, winning a gold medal in her lone individual event — the 200 back. Smith’s world record in the 100 came leading off the 4×100 medley relay for the United States which went on to win gold and lower the world record as well.
Regan Smith at US Nationals; Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
She followed up an impressive World Championships with a win in the 200 fly at US Nationals for her lone finals swim of the meet. Regan Smith has made three straight national team trips, starting as a 15-year-old in 2017 when she was eighth in the 200 back at the World Championships. She followed that up with a bronze at age 16 in the 200 back at the 2018 Pan Pacs, and then had an explosive breakthrough with two world records this summer at the World Championships at age 17.
Regan Smith is in her senior year at Lakeville North High School in Lakeville, Minnesota has already committed to swim at Stanford University for the future, adding her name to a team that has won three straight NCAA titles in women’s swimming and diving.
Smith was named to the TIME 100 Next list, which is a brand new list that “spotlights 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health and more.” The list was separated into five categories: artists, advocates, leaders, phenoms and innovators, with Smith falling under the “phenom” category.
The full list can be viewed here.
TIME 100 Next List (Phenoms)
- Zion Williamson (basketball)
- Alysa Liu (figure skater)
- Lil Nas X (music)
- Keke Palmer (actress)
- Sally Rooney (writer)
- Coco Gauff (tennis)
- Ben Stokes (cricket)
- Jeremy O. Harris (play writer)
- Tim Ellis (CEO of Relativity Space)
- Blackpink (K-Pop group)
- Emma Chamberlain (YouTube influencer)
- Marsai Martin (actress)
- Regan Smith (swimming)
- Kerby-Jean Raymond (fashion designer)
- Bobi Wine (philanthropist)
- Max Schrems (activist)