World Aquatics Championships 2023: Kaylee McKeown makes history by completing sweep of backstroke titles
Australian phenom McKeown became only the second swimmer to win all three distances at a single world long-course championships. She completed her set by winning the 200m backstroke in Fukuoka.
Swimming
Australian sensation Kaylee McKeown completed a sweep of the backstroke events at the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, adding the women’s 200m gold on Saturday (25 July), to the titles she had won in the 50m and 100m.
The 22-year-old McKeown sparkled in her specialist event, racing home in a time of 2:03.85, beating perennial challenger Regan Smith (2:04.94) of the United States into second place. Peng Xuwei of People’s Republic of China rounded out the podium winning bronze in 2:06.74.
The 2019 world champion Smith led the race over the first 100 metres, turning under world-record pace before McKeown moved into the lead. World record holder McKeown turned in a strong final leg, touching a second ahead of her arch-rival.
In doing so she became only the second person in history to win all three distances at one World Aquatics Championships. Earlier in the championships China’s Qin Haiyang became the first swimmer to achieve this feat in the 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke.
McKeown is the undisputed dominant force in the women's backstroke holding the long-course world records in both the 100m and 200m distances.
“That means a lot (winning all three backstroke titles). I didn’t think I’d be able to do that tonight, especially after a long week,” McKeown said.
“That is the best thing about sport, you have to focus on your own race, and that is exactly what I did tonight.”