Regan Smith made history on Tuesday night at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Indianapolis by setting a new world record in the 100-meter backstroke. With a time of 57.13 seconds, she easily surpassed the previous record of 57.33 set by Australia’s Kaylee McKeown just a year ago.
Smith, who won a bronze medal in the 100 backstroke at the Tokyo Olympics, is now positioned as the favorite to claim gold in Paris. Reflecting on her accomplishment, Smith expressed her satisfaction with the outcome and said it was all part of her plan. This will be Smith’s second time representing the United States at the Olympics. Despite finishing third in the 100 butterfly event, Smith was determined to make a strong comeback in her signature event, the backstroke.
Katharine Berkoff also earned a spot on the team with a time of 57.91 in the 100 backstroke, joining Smith in what promises to be an exciting event at the Olympics. After securing her spot on the Olympic team with a dominant performance, Smith’s focus is now set on the upcoming games in Paris.
