Australian Kaylee McKeown broke American Regan Smith‘s world record in the 100m backstroke, clocking 57.45 seconds to win her Olympic Trials on Sunday.
McKeown took 12 hundredths off Smith’s world record from the 2019 World Championships. Both are 19 years old.
“Obviously can’t believe it,” said McKeown, who became the fourth different woman to break the 100m back mark since July 2017. “I just wanted to come in tonight and blow out the cobwebs.”
McKeown swam 10 months after her father, Sholto, died after a two-year brain cancer battle. McKeown has a tattoo across the top of her foot reading, I’ll always be with you.