Three-time Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown has broken the women’s 200 metres backstroke world record at the NSW State Championships in Sydney.
Key points:
- McKeown swam 2:03.14 to set the world record
- She broke the previous mark held by Regan Smith
- The Queenslander also holds the world record in the 100m backstroke
McKeown swam a time of 2 minutes and 3.14 seconds on Friday night, breaking the previous mark — held by Regan Smith of the United States — by 0.21.
She split 1:00.73 at the halfway mark in Friday night’s final at Sydney Olympic Park, before turning for the last time at 150 metres in 1:31.84.
The performance is an ominous sign for McKeown’s rivals, with the world championships to be held in Fukuoka in July.
The 21-year-old Queenslander also holds the women’s 100m backstroke world record, which she set at Australia’s Olympic trials in Adelaide in 2021.
At the Tokyo Olympics that followed, McKeown won gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke, and the 4x100m medley relay.
“After the Olympics, I found it hard to get up behind the blocks again,” McKeown said.
“[But] I’ve found a new love for the sport and it just goes to show that a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer.
“I haven’t necessarily changed anything in my program or training-wise. It’s just that I’m happier.”
McKeown claimed gold in the 200m backstroke at last year’s world championships in Budapest.
Along with her victory, McKeown also collected three silver medals in the 200m individual medley, the 4x100m medley and 4x100m mixed medley relays.
McKeown — who trains under legendary coach Michael Bohl at the Griffith University club — won four gold at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, a haul that included wins in the 100m and 200m backstroke.
She finished 2022 with more success, adding the world short course titles in the 100m and 200m backstroke to her list of achievements.
ABC/AAP
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