FLASH! Regan Smith Clips World Record in 50 Backstroke to Lead American Sweep
Two days after managing a gold-silver sweep in the 100-meter backstroke at the World Short Course Championships, Americans Regan Smith and Katharine Berkoff replicated the finish in the 50 backstroke at Duna Arena in Budapest. Adding a little spice to the latest event was Smith’s clocking of 25.23, which established a world record and bettered the previous global standard of Canadian Maggie Mac Neil (25.25) from 2022.
Smith has been nothing short of sensational for Team USA during her career, which included world records in 2019 at the World Championships in Gwangju. But since joining forces with coach Bob Bowman, Smith has elevated her standing in the sport and now has another world record on the resume. With titles in the 50 backstroke and 100 backstroke secured in Budapest, Smith is one step away from completing the backstroke trifecta.
In her latest record performance, Smith left no doubt. Not only did her effort of 25.23 break Mac Neil’s world record, it provided Smith with a comfortable margin over Berkoff, who touched the wall in 25.61. A victory of .38 in a 50-meter discipline is dominant, with Smith overpowering the field particularly over the last length. Out in 12.62, Smith owned a .06 edge at the midway point of the race. It was her homecoming split of 12.61 – which enabled her to negative split the race – that provided the massive cushion.
Kylie Masse made it a North American sweep of the entire podium, as the Canadian earned the bronze medal in 25.78, which was a tenth quicker than her countrywoman, Ingrid Wilm (25.88). France’s Analia Pigree was fifth in 25.94.
The silver medalist in three solo events at last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, Smith has enjoyed a sterling few months in the smaller pool. Before making her way to Europe for Worlds, Smith traveled to Asia and put together several standout efforts at the World Cup series, including world records in the 100 and 200 backstrokes.
In Budapest, she has complemented her victories in the 50 backstroke and 100 backstroke with a silver medal in the 200 butterfly. In the upcoming 200 backstroke, Smith will be favored to wrap up a sweep of the backstroke disciplines. More, she’ll be targeting her own global mark in the event, which stands at 1:58.83 from World Cup action in Singapore.
