NANTERRE, France – Kaylee McKeown still dominates the women’s Olympic backstroke.
The Australian toppled world record holder Regan Smith of the United States in the 100 meter back on Tuesday night, defending the title she won at the Tokyo Games.
Smith, who broke McKeown’s world mark with a time of 57.13 seconds in the US tests last month, she led at the turn but was unable to hold off the strong Australian, who defended the title she won in Tokyo three years ago.
McKeown moved to the front halfway through the return lap and reached the wall in 57.33, winning by a relatively comfortable margin over Smith’s finish of 57.66.
The USA also won bronze with Katharine Berkoff coming in third with 57.98.
Smith reached over the ropes to congratulate McKeown, but it hurt. The 22-year-old Minnesota native looked to be in top shape following her performance and poised to win the first gold medal of her career.
Instead, it was McKeown winning his fourth gold. She swept the backstroke events in Tokyo and also won gold in the relay.
Daniel Wiffen won Ireland’s first gold medal in swimming since scandal-plagued Michelle Smith finished first in three events at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Wiffen overtook Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri on the final lap, looking as fresh as he had at the start of the grueling race.
Wiffen won in 7 minutes, 38.19 seconds, climbing the track’s ropes to keep one finger pointing skyward. Defending Olympic champion Bobby Finke also excelled in what was essentially a three-man race, also overtaking Paltrinieri to take silver in 7:38.75.
The bronze went to the Italian, who clocked a time of 7:39.38.
It was another stunning performance from an Irish swimmer, shortly after Mona McSharry wins bronze in the 100 meter breaststroke the night before.
Until these Olympics, the country’s swimming history was essentially confined to Smith, who surprisingly won three gold medals and a bronze in 1996 amid suspicions that he was doping. She later received a four-year doping suspension that essentially ended her career, but she kept her medals in Atlanta.
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