News | Sailing
24 Nov 2024 18:15
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Sports > Sailing

    Regan Smith takes Kaylee McKeown's 200m backstroke world record in Singapore World Cup meet

    Kaylee McKeown may have beaten arch-rival Regan Smith to Olympic gold, but the American is on the charge ahead of the World Short Course Championships, claiming McKeown's 200m world record.


    It was not so long ago that Australian superstar Kaylee McKeown could have claimed all six backstroke world records across long- and short-course pools.

    Now, she is left with two after American backstroke star Regan Smith claimed the 200-metre short-course record at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Singapore.

    Smith, who McKeown beat to gold in the 100m and 200m back at the Paris Olympics, finished in 1 minute and 58.83 seconds, taking 0.11 seconds off the previous mark, held by the Australian.

    Australian Iona Anderson finished third in 2:01.98.

    Smith had already further lowered her 100m backstroke mark with a 54.27 the day before, marking a hugely successful meet.

    "We have been having so much fun over the course of these three stops," Smith told media at the World Cup series.

    "It's been a blast. This is a World Cup, it is so much fun and I want to keep doing it in future years."

    McKeown had competed on the first day of the first leg of the three-leg World Cup in Shanghai. 

    There, she beat Smith in the 50m backstroke in a new World Cup leading time of 25.36, but withdrew from further competition to prioritise her mental health.

    "I would like to thank World Aquatics for the opportunity to come out and race at World Cups, it's been so much fun here in Shanghai," McKeown wrote on Instagram in October.

    "Putting my mental health first I've decided to cut my experience short. 

    "As an athlete it's so important to listen to your heart and to know when enough is enough.

    "Time for a well overdue break."

    Last year, McKeown broke several world records and won the overall women’s title during the World Cup series.

    However, despite her stunning performance in Paris, McKeown was back in action soon after, competing in the Australian short-course Nationals in September.

    "I was going a bit stir crazy, sitting at home," McKeown said in Adelaide.

    "So I decided to jump back in two and a bit weeks ago and [I am] just increasing the sessions."

    It proved a good choice, as she broke the almost five-year-old 100m short-course backstroke world record, taking 0.33 off compatriot Minna Atherton's mark.

    Then she was non-committal about competing in the World Short Course Championships in December, saying she would not put any pressure on herself.

    McKeown was named in the squad of 24 for the Championships, set to be held in Budapest, which includes 10 Paris Olympians and eight debutants.

    Short-course swimming takes place in a 25-metre pool, making for more turns and faster times than a long-course 50m pool, which is the size of pool the Olympics takes place in.

    McKeown now holds the non-Olympic 50m backstroke world record and the long-course 200m back, but having claimed their year's two major prizes in Paris, she is unlikely to be too phased by losing her records.

    Smith, on the other hand, who broke McKeown's 100m long-course mark before the Olympics, was bullish. 

    "I want to go to the short-course worlds and have just as much fun as I had here. 

    "I think life is too short to take stuff like this so seriously. I've been having so much fun, and that's what swimming should be. And so I think my goal at short-course worlds is to swim fast and enjoy it." 

    Elsewhere in Singapore, Aussie Isaac Cooper won the men's 50m back in 22.61, Mo Johnson finished third in the 800m, while Brittany Castelluzzo won the 200m butterfly and came third in the 200m free.

    There were plenty of other Paris Olympians in action as well, including French hero Léon Marchand, who swept the medley events, breaking the world record in the 200m IM.

    Meanwhile, Kate Douglass of America won four events, including breaking the world record in the 200m breaststroke as she edged Smith for the overall World Cup title and a cheque for $US100,000 ($152,000).


    ABC




    © 2024 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other Sailing News
     24 Nov: New Zealand sit second on the leaderboard after day one of Sail GP's season-opening event in Dubai
     23 Nov: The New Zealand SailGP team is setting their F50 boat up to excel in light airs for tonight's season-opening regatta in Dubai
     15 Nov: Paraguay have beaten champions Argentina 2-1 in their South American men's football World Cup qualifier in Asunción
     26 Oct: Trimaran Romanza has weathered less than ideal conditions to win this year's Coastal Classic
     25 Oct: Sailors racing in this year's Coastal Classic are expecting less than ideal winds
     21 Oct: The America's Cup could be competed for once again on New Zealand waters
     20 Oct: Discussions around the future of the America's Cup remain up in the air, as Team New Zealand celebrate retaining the Auld Mug in Barcelona
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    An underwhelming All Blacks outfit have produced a 29-11 victory over Italy in Turin to finish their season with ten wins and four losses More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    From a US$300 billion climate finance deal to global carbon trading, here’s what was – and wasn’t – achieved at the COP29 climate talks More...



     Today's News

    Business:
    From a US$300 billion climate finance deal to global carbon trading, here’s what was – and wasn’t – achieved at the COP29 climate talks 18:07

    Environment:
    Around 30 pilot whales are stranded on Northland's Ruakaka Beach 18:06

    Law and Order:
    Images of a police officer wearing a gang patch have emerged only days after the new ban's come into force 17:26

    Rugby League:
    Auckland FC are embracing the underdog tag as they head into their first A-League game in Australia against Macarthur this afternoon 16:56

    Law and Order:
    An online predator's been sentenced to seven years in prison, after over a decade of offending 16:17

    International:
    Ski jumper Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal knocked off starting bench in Lillehammer 16:07

    Auckland:
    One person's dead, after a single vehicle crash in Auckland's Weymouth on Friday night 15:27

    Wellington:
    A person has been seriously injured after a jetski and boat, crashed into each other in Porirua this morning 15:07

    Rugby:
    An underwhelming All Blacks outfit have produced a 29-11 victory over Italy in Turin to finish their season with ten wins and four losses 14:37

    Tennis:
    Andy Murray to coach former rival Novak Djokovic for 2025 Australian Open 14:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd