Kaylee McKeown tops rival Regan Smith for another major title at swimming worlds
McKeown won in 57.16 seconds, just missing the world record, with Smith just behind in 57.35 for silver. Both were among the top five times in the event's history. American Katharine Berkoff took bronze in 58.15.
Smith was a fraction ahead at the 50-meter mark, but McKeown passed her in those final meters for her second world title in the event.
It's the fourth time in four tries that McKeown has outpaced Smith in the event at either the Olympics or world championships. Smith also took silver behind McKeown at the Paris Olympics and the 2023 worlds and earned bronze in the Tokyo Olympics behind McKeown and Canada's Kylie Masse. Smith won gold at the 2022 worlds, which McKeown did not compete in.
Smith's time was her third-best ever and is now the fifth best in the event's history. However, one of those four superior times was McKeown's in the lane next to her on Tuesday.
'What more can you do? I have no control over how fast Kaylee swims,' Smith said in an interview on Peacock. 'I'm going to choose not to be frustrated — 57.35 is pretty fantastic.'
Though McKeown has owned the biggest meets, the rivalry is still one of the best in swimming.
Smith is the current world-record holder, setting the mark of 57.12 at last year's U.S. Olympic trials. She also set the Olympic record of 57.28 in Paris — the event's second-best time ever before Tuesday — but it came in the women's medley relay, in which the U.S. beat McKeown's Australian squad for gold. In the individual 100-meter final, McKeown beat Smith 57.33 to 57.66.
McKeown now has five world championship golds and 13 overall medals.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Olympics, Global Sports, Women's Olympics
2025 The Athletic Media Company
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
34 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Léon Marchand, Summer McIntosh and 12-year-old Yu Zidi hope to shine on the final day of the worlds
SINGAPORE (AP) — French star Léon Marchand has broken one world record already in the 200-meter individual medley. He'll try for a second on Sunday in the 400 IM on the closing day of the swimming world championships in Singapore, a record he set two years ago in the worlds in Fukuoka, Japan. That mark is 4 minutes, 02.50 seconds. It would be Marchand's second gold in Singapore, where he's swimming a reduced schedule after winning four individual golds a year ago at the Paris Olympics. He will swim from Lane 1, entering with a relatively slow qualifying time. Summer McIntosh of Canada will be in the women's 400 IM, trying for her fourth gold. Her hope of winning five individual golds in the worlds — only Michael Phelps has done that — was crushed Saturday night when she was beaten by American Katie Ledecky in the 800 free. McIntosh finished third. Chinese 12-year-old Yu Zidi has the No. 3 qualifying time as she shoots for a medal. She picked up a bronze medal in a relay — she swam in a prelim but not the final — but an individual medal would be astounding. As a reminder, she is the same age as most sixth- or seventh-grade students, depending on the school system. The Americans, frustrated throughout the meet with a case of 'acute gastroenteritis' picked up in a training camp in Thailand, surged on Saturday with three golds to bring their gold-medal leading total to eight. Australia has seven. The Americans have several gold-medal chances in Sunday's eight finals. Among them: world-record holder Bobby Finke in the 1,500 free, and the men's and women's 4x100 medley relays. The Americans have the fastest qualifying times in both relays. China, the Paris Olympic champions a year ago in the men's 4x100 medley, failed to qualify. China finished ninth, out of the top eight in a time of 3:32.69 seconds. They swam 3:27.46 to win in Paris. Qin Haiyang and Pan Zhanle — two world-record holders — were on the team that missed out. They were both on the Paris team. __
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Léon Marchand, Summer McIntosh and 12-year-old Yu Zidi hope to shine on the final day of the worlds
Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — French star Léon Marchand has broken one world record already in the 200-meter individual medley. He'll try for a second on Sunday in the 400 IM on the closing day of the swimming world championships in Singapore, a record he set two years ago in the worlds in Fukuoka, Japan. That mark is 4 minutes, 02.50 seconds. It would be Marchand's second gold in Singapore, where he's swimming a reduced schedule after winning four individual golds a year ago at the Paris Olympics. He will swim from Lane 1, entering with a relatively slow qualifying time. Summer McIntosh of Canada will be in the women's 400 IM, trying for her fourth gold. Her hope of winning five individual golds in the worlds — only Michael Phelps has done that — was crushed Saturday night when she was beaten by American Katie Ledecky in the 800 free. McIntosh finished third. Chinese 12-year-old Yu Zidi has the No. 3 qualifying time as she shoots for a medal. She picked up a bronze medal in a relay — she swam in a prelim but not the final — but an individual medal would be astounding. As a reminder, she is the same age as most sixth- or seventh-grade students, depending on the school system. The Americans, frustrated throughout the meet with a case of 'acute gastroenteritis' picked up in a training camp in Thailand, surged on Saturday with three golds to bring their gold-medal leading total to eight. Australia has seven. The Americans have several gold-medal chances in Sunday's eight finals. Among them: world-record holder Bobby Finke in the 1,500 free, and the men's and women's 4x100 medley relays. The Americans have the fastest qualifying times in both relays. China, the Paris Olympic champions a year ago in the men's 4x100 medley, failed to qualify. China finished ninth, out of the top eight in a time of 3:32.69 seconds. They swam 3:27.46 to win in Paris. Qin Haiyang and Pan Zhanle — two world-record holders — were on the team that missed out. They were both on the Paris team. __ AP sports: in this topic
Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Schmidt snatches late point for Houston in 2-2 tie with Bay
Associated Press Sophie Schmidt scored a late equalizer to give the Houston Dash a 2-2 tie against Bay FC on Saturday night in the National Women's Soccer League. In the only other match, the North Carolina Courage was held to a scoreless tie at home to the San Diego Wave. Schmidt rose the highest in a crowded box to head home a corner kick in the 88th minute at PayPal Park. Bay FC (4-6-4) had opened the scoring when Penelope Hocking scored a one-touch finish off Racheal Kundananji's cross in the 16th minute. Houston (3-8-3), now winless in its last six matches, fought back to tie it 1-1 when Kiki Van Zanten scored her first NWSL goal in the 72nd minute. Van Zanten swept home a chipped ball across the box by Avery Patterson. Within two minutes Bay restored its lead when Alyssa Malonson crossed the ball to the back post for Taylor Huff to find a pocket of space in the box and finish in the 74th. Bay FC took twice as many shots (20) as Houston (10). Despite 58% possession, the Dash managed just two shots on target. Courage hold on for 0-0 at home to Wave The North Carolina Courage and the San Diego Wave played to a 0-0 draw. The Courage (5-5-4) is now undefeated in its last five matches at home, while it is third shutout away from home for the Wave this season. San Diego (7-3-4) dominated with 58% possession and 18 shots to North Carolina's six but struggled to create big chances against a stubborn defense. Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy made three saves. Wave winger Delphine Cascarino's effort from the edge of the box in the 39th minute was the only strike that required a big save. Olympic goal medalist Jaedyn Shaw, who started her career with San Diego in 2022, came off the bench for North Carolina in 70th minute. ___ AP soccer:
