Kaylee McKeown continues world dominance with win over American arch-rival

Singapore: Kaylee McKeown has produced a magnificent swim to claim gold in the women’s 100m backstroke final at the world championships, just weeks after dislocating her shoulder.

The greatest female backstroker in history underlined her brilliance on Tuesday night in Singapore with a narrow victory over her long-time American rival Regan Smith.

Kaylee McKeown in action at the world swimming championships in Singapore. Credit: Getty Images

McKeown (57.16), edged out Smith (57.35) by 0.19 seconds to set a new Australian record.

McKeown has nothing left to prove in the sport after winning 100m backstroke gold at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. She has been so dominant in recent years that her last defeat in the two-lap event at a major international meet came in 2019 at the world championship.

However, this masthead can reveal that McKeown has been managing a shoulder injury she sustained before Australia’s team went into staging camp in Darwin earlier this month, which might explain her performance.

McKeown said the injury prompted her to evaluate her training ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

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“I popped my shoulder out two weeks before flying up to Darwin, so I’m just trying to manage that and make sure it’s not going to be an ongoing thing,” McKeown told this masthead before her race. “I have a few little injuries as well, so I’ve just got to really manage myself so I can make it to the LA Olympics.”

“It’s been a prep that I’m not used to. I haven’t trained as much as what I would have liked to, but I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. Coming into these championships, I just want to enjoy myself.

“I got way too caught up in Paris with the pressure and the nerves that overtake the enjoyment that comes with swimming. This year, I’m really just taking a step back and doing what I want to do for once and not doing what everyone else wants me to do.”

More to come

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