Regan Smith was edged out by longtime rival, Kaylee McKeown, on Tuesday in another high-profile Australian victory over the USA at the 2024 Olympics.
McKeown took gold in the women’s 100-meter backstroke, touching the wall .33 seconds before Smith and besting her own Olympic record in the event by .14 seconds.
On Saturday, top American swimmer Katie Ledecky also fell to an Australian, Ariarne Titmus, in the 400-meter freestyle, giving the Aussie swimmer her second gold in the event and leaving Ledecky with bronze.
Fans pulsed in the stands as McKeown and Smith surged towards the end of the pool side by side, with McKeown just inching ahead in the final meters of the race to take gold.
This is McKeown’s second consecutive gold in the event, as she also won in Tokyo three years ago.
The 23-year-old Aussie’s stunning win Tuesday comes amid what many fans expected to be Smith’s comeback season.
Smith had just reclaimed the world record in the 100-meter backstroke in June, clocking in at 57.13 seconds at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
She had previously taken the record as just a teenager in 2019, but lost it to McKeown in Olympic Games in 2021
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Despite coming into Tokyo as a favorite, the then 19-year-old only won bronze in the event.
Smith did also score a silver in the 200-meter butterfly and in the 400-medley relay in Tokyo and she is expected to race both events later this week in Paris.
She is the top American to qualify for the 2024 Games in the 200-meter backstroke, which could also be an opportunity for her to win her first gold before the competition comes to a close.
Smith’s world record in the 100-meter backstroke is still intact, as even though McKeown lowered the Olympic record, she didn’t manage to break Smith’s earlier time of 57.13.
American swimmer Katharine Berkoff came in just behind Smith, earning the bronze medal for Team USA and ensuring two American flags flew during the podium ceremony.
Smith and McKeown will have another chance to battle it out on Wednesday in the 200-meter backstroke.
