American fastest on 100m backstroke

American Regan Smith is pushing for a spot at the top of the podium in the 100m backstroke at the Paris Olympics this summer. In the US qualifying rounds on Tuesday, Smith set a new world record with a time of 57.13.

With this time, she surpasses Australian Kaylee McKeown's year-old record of 57.33.

For Smith, the victory and record, and thus an Olympic ticket, were a revenge after the qualifying round of the 100m butterfly, where she came third. She now has a chance at a new Olympic medal in backstroke after the bronze in Tokyo at the same distance in 2021.