ADELAIDE (Australia): Teenager Kaylee McKeown smashed the women’s 100m backstroke world record on Sunday, touching in 57.45sec at the Australian Olympic trials.
The 19-year-old, who has been in blistering form this year, swam a sensational race to sweep past American rival Regan Smith’s all-time mark of 57.57, set at the 2019 world championships.
McKeown turned in 28.10 and was never under threat as she powered to the finish.
Veteran Emily Seebohm hit the wall second in 58.59 to also book her place in Tokyo in what will be her fourth Olympics.
“I just can’t believe it. I just wanted to come in tonight and blow out the cobwebs,” McKeown said poolside in Adelaide with tears in her eyes.
“It’s been a huge year for me and my family. It’s been 10 months since my dad passed today. So with that behind me and doing that I think he would be very proud.”
McKeown, whose father died last year from brain cancer, is shaping up to be a serious multiple gold medal contender in Japan.
