The queen of the women’s 100m backstroke is back. On Tuesday night, Australia’s Kaylee McKeown defended her Tokyo title in a fast and furious battle with Regan Smith. The American had taken McKeown’s world record just last month, but in Paris the Australian out-touched her opponent in the race for the wall to reassert her dominance of the two-lap discipline.
Between them, McKeown and Smith hold all 15 of the fastest times in history in the 100m backstroke. Since Tokyo, they have traded the world record and world titles. But on Tuesday, only one could emerge victorious.
