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Kaylee McKeown Posts 2:03.30 200 Backstroke, Only 0.16 Off Own World Record

2024 AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TRIALS

WOMEN’S 200 BACK – FINAL

GOLD – Kaylee McKeown, 2:03.30 *OLY Qualifier
SILVER – Jaclyn Barclay, 2:07.88 *OLY Qualifier
BRONZE – Hannah Fredericks, 2:08.25

Kaylee McKeown just missed her own 200 backstroke World Record as she posted a 2:03.30 on Thursday, the #2 swim of all-time. She was 0.16 off of her World Record of a 2:03.14 that she swam in March of 2023. McKeown leads the world this season with her time from today.

Top 5 Women’s LCM 200 Back Performances All-Time

  1. 2:03.14 – Kaylee McKeown, 2023
  2. 2:03.30 – Kaylee McKeown, 2024
  3. 2:03.35 – Regan Smith, 2019
  4. 2:03.69 – Regan Smith, 2019
  5. 2:03.70 – Kaylee McKeown, 2023

This was McKeown’s second near-miss of her own World Record as she swam a 57.41 in the 100 backstroke on day 2 of the meet. That swim was just off of her World Record of a 57.33 that she swam in October 2023.

McKeown will look to defend her Olympic title in the event later this summer as she won the event in a 2:04.68 at the 2020(1) Tokyo Games. That field notably did not feature Regan Smith of the US who is the #2 performer of all-time with a 2:03.35 that she swam back at the 2019 World Championships. Smith’s swim marked a World Record at the time.

Last summer, McKeown battled it out with Smith at the 2023 World Championships as McKeown swept the backstroke events including a 2:03.85 in the 200. McKeown swam a 2:03.70 at 2023 Australian Trials so today’s swim shows her consistency in being able to post some of the fastest swims of all-time not even at the biggest stage. Smith sits just behind McKeown this season with a 2:03.99 in the 200 backstroke, while no other swimmer has been below the 2:05 mark.

2023-2024 LCM Women 200 Back

KayleeAUS
McKEOWN
06/13
2:03.30
2Regan
SMITH
USA2:03.9903/09
3 Kylie
MASSE
CAN2:05.5708/02
4Phoebe
BACON
USA2:05.6108/02
5Claire
CURZAN
USA2:05.7702/17
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Beginner Swimmer at 25
4 months ago

kinda slow no? Good by not great 🤔. Expecting double WRs as Aussies tend to swim fastest on their home turf where they are comfortable.

😈😈😈💥💥💥 Smith is gonna SMASH HER in Paris 👊👊👊💪💪💪

SwimStats
Reply to  Beginner Swimmer at 25
4 months ago

Visiting Budapest was the highlight of my last trip to Australia.

Genevieve Nnaji
4 months ago

….

Last edited 4 months ago by Genevieve Nnaji
Fraser Thorpe
4 months ago

Amazing that Kaylee has swim the 2nd fastest all time in two events and 4th fastest all time in another and doesn’t crack the top 3 swims at a domestic meet.

Helk bengur
Reply to  Fraser Thorpe
4 months ago

She was one of the best, third after titmus and maybe o callaghan

Awsi Dooger
4 months ago

Kaylee is very strong. That’s one of the reasons she doesn’t peak and valley. If you look at the Instagram accounts of McKeown and Titmus they are always pushing themselves in the weight room or with chin ups, etc. Normally those clips are in the short lived Instagram stories and not the full posts.

It’s the same thing with track athletes like Femke Bol who never peak and valley. She posts weight training sessions all year long.

Contrast to many Americans like Gretchen Walsh, who conceded she has only become serious about weight work within the past year. They lost valuable foundation toward Paris.

Genevieve Nnaji
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
4 months ago

This peak Awsi absurdity

Buttafly
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
4 months ago

You have the IQ of a fruit fly my dude

Jonathan
4 months ago

Jeez. Regan Smith could go PBs in the 100 and 200 back in Paris and it still might not be enough for gold in either event.

Anonymous
Reply to  Jonathan
4 months ago

Same could be said for Kaylee as well. They are so close. Lots of fast swimming coming our way this summer!

Andy
Reply to  Jonathan
4 months ago

I mean MOC smashed her own world record (which had itself taken down Pellegrini’s legendary super suited mark) m and it wasn’t even fast enough to win her national trials

Boknows34
Reply to  Jonathan
4 months ago

Could break the WR in both and still not win gold.

Swimmer.thingz
4 months ago

Question is: why is she tapered for this meet when she would easily qualify anyway?

Andy
Reply to  Swimmer.thingz
4 months ago

Kaylee and Regan aren’t really taper swimmers – they swim fast year round

Robbos
Reply to  Andy
4 months ago

Exactly some swimmers swim fast all the time Tapered or not & both Kaylee & Regan are like that.
Need to speak to far more knowledgeable than me to understand why. Leisel Jones was another Mack Horton was a big tapered swimmer.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 months ago

No.

One.

Is.

Ever tapered.

Just Keep Swimming
Reply to  Steve Nolan
4 months ago

It doesn’t really matter either way. She could be untapered right now and go slower with a taper, or be tapered and go faster without one.

Genevieve Nnaji
Reply to  Just Keep Swimming
4 months ago

Checking 2023….

Verdict: Confirmed.

Octavio Gupta
4 months ago

She’s tipped her hand. The door is wide open for Regan.

PBJSwimming
Reply to  Octavio Gupta
4 months ago

I’m not sure that’s how swimming works.

Genevieve Nnaji
Reply to  PBJSwimming
4 months ago

They probably thought a different sport

Rick Paine
4 months ago

That’s 1:47 converted

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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