Regan Smith scoops 200m butterfly and backstroke gold in championship records at 2023 U.S. Open

The former backstroke world record holder was in fine fettle on the final night of 2023 U.S. Open in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday (2 December). Katie Ledecky dominates 1,500m.

2 minBy Olympics.com
Regan Smith

(2023 Getty Images)

Three-time Olympic swimming medallist Regan Smith was the big winner on the final night of the U.S. Open Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday (2 December), bagging gold in the 200m backstroke and butterfly events.

The former backstroke world record holder first dominated the 200m backstroke leading from start to finish before she delivered a commanding victory in the 200m butterfly.

She set a championship record in the backstroke event improving on the mark she set last year winning the race by over two seconds in 2:04.27. Claire Curzan followed in second place in 2:06.39 with Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh finishing third in 2:06.81.

Smith left the best for last taking down the championship record in the 200m butterfly that stood for 24 years. The 21-year-old was in flying form speeding ahead as she propelled herself to victory in a time of 2:06.72, chopping nearly half a second off the time Susan O’Neill set in 1999.

Lindsay Looney (2:09.31) claimed silver with Dakota Luther rounding out the podium in 2:10.17.

In the opening distance events, seven-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky was peerless in the women’s 1,500m, cruising to victory in 15:46.38. She touched 25 seconds ahead of nearest rival Paige Madden in second place. Madden nevertheless delivered a person-best performance chopping nearly 20 seconds off her lifetime mark with Leah Smith finishing third in 16:15.46.

Double Olympic champion Robert Finke was in equally imperious form playing cat and mouse with Charlie Clark in the dying stages of the men’s 1,500m. Clark led for much of the race before Finke surged over the final metres claiming victory in 15:03.97 with his fellow American following in 15:05.57.

Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong, China won her third gold medal at the gala adding the 100m freestyle title to the ones in the 200m freestyle and 100m breaststroke from the day before.

The versatile swimmer charged home in a championship record of 52.94s in the 100m freestyle with Torri Huske (53.17s) following shortly behind her in second place.

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