Headlined by Regan Smith, Expect Multiple Threats to 2:06 Barrier in 200 Butterfly at U.S. Nationals
The first time a woman broke the 2:06 barrier in the 200-meter butterfly was 1981, when American Mary T. Meagher uncorked an iconic performance of 2:05.96. That effort stood as the world record for 18-plus years, until Australia’s Susie O’Neill clocked 2:05.81. These days, a sub-2:06 outing in the 200 fly remains significant, with only 27 women ever accomplishing the feat, including seven from the United States.
When the United States National Championships start on Tuesday in Indianapolis, don’t be surprised if there are multiple sub-2:06 swims in the 200 butterfly. The grinding event is a strength of the American arsenal, led by reigning Olympic silver medalist Regan Smith. The American-record holder at 2:03.84, Smith is the No. 4 performer in history and has consistently complemented her backstroke prowess with excellence over four laps of butterfly.
For her career, Smith has been sub-2:06 on double-digit occasions and her silver medal at last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris followed a silver medal in the event at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Smith was also the bronze medalist in the 200 fly at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka.
While Smith is the undisputed favorite to claim the upcoming national title in the 200 fly, teenagers Alex Shackell and Audrey Derivaux should scare the 2:06 threshold in Indy. The 18-year-old Shackell was a 2024 Olympian and boasts a personal best of 2:06.10 in the 200 fly, a time that was recorded in the semifinals of last summer’s Olympic Trials. Shackell seems poised for a drop, which would likely mean a dip into 2:05 territory.
A 15-year-old from the Jersey Wahoos, Derivaux gained valuable experience at the Olympic Trials, where she advanced to the final of the 400 individual medley. Last month, Derivaux delivered a time of 2:06.46 in the 200 fly at the TYR Pro Series stop in Fort Lauderdale. That time made the youngster the No. 9 performer in American history, one slot behind Shackell.
The 200 butterfly is the first event of Nationals and three athletes going sub-2:06 could set the tone for the five-day competition. It would also bode well for podium contention at the World Championships in Singapore.
Top-10 American Performers (200 Butterfly)
- Regan Smith (2:03.84)
- Mary DeScenza (2:04.14)
- Hali Flickinger (2:05.65)
- Kathleen Hersey (2:05.78)
- Misty Hyman (2:05.88)
- Cammile Adams (2:05.90)
- Mary T. Meagher (2:05.96)
- Alex Shackell (2:06.10)
- Audrey Derivaux (2:06.46)
- Katie Drabot (2:06.59)
