KAYLEE MCKEOWN CEMENT LEGEND STATUS WITH HISTORIC BACKSTROKE TRIFECTA

One day after we saw the first man sweep all three distances in the same stroke at a World Aquatics 2023, Fukuoka. A day later we were treated to the same feat on the women’s side

Friday Qin Haiyang clinched his historic achievement by adding the 50m breast gold to his previous victories in the 100m and 200m. Tonight, it was Kaylee McKeown of Australia who got it done, capping off her trio in the 200m back.

McKeown claimed the 200m back gold this evening in a very quick result of 2:03.85 (1:00.81/1:03.04) within striking distance of her own World Record of 2:03.14 established earlier this year. The performance checks in as the 6th-fastest ever and the 22-year-old now owns 7 of the top 10 swims ever produced in this 200m back race.

Top 10 Women’s LCM 200 Backstroke Performances

1. 1. 2:03.14 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS) 2023
   1. 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (USA) 2019
   1. 2:03.69 – Regan Smith (USA) 2019
   1. 2:03.70 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS) 2023
   1. 2:03.85 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS) 2023
   1. 2:04.06 – Missy Franklin (USA) 2012
   1. 2:04.28 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS) 2021
   1. 2:04.31 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS) 2021
   1. 2:04.18 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS) 2023
   1. 2:04.49 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS) 2020

Tonight’s effort got the Aussie to the wall over a second ahead of Regan Smith of the United States who touched in 2:04.94 while China’s Peng Xuwei rounded out the podium in 2:06.74.

McKeown claimed 50m back gold here in a time of 27.08, a new Oceanic Record while she also grabbed the top prize in the 100m with a result of 57.53, a Championships Record.

She is the reigning Olympic champion in both the 100m and 200m backstroke events, following up with 200m back gold last year in Budapest. McKeown also topped the 100m and 200m back podiums at last year’s Commonwealth Games.