Kaylee McKeown defended her 100m backstroke Olympics gold with a new record

Kaylee McKeown (Australia) won the gold in the women’s 100m backstroke with a new Olympic swimming record at the Paris Games.

Kaylee McKeown, 23, who is world champion in the event since Fukuoka 2023, triumphed in 57.33 sec in the final to defend her title from Tokyo 2020. She broke her own Olympic record of 57.47 sec, which she set three years ago.

Kaylee McKeown already has four Olympic gold medals and could add one more, having defended her first place in the 200m backstroke in Paris.

Two American swimmers finished after her. Second is the bronze medalist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and world record holder Regan Smith with 57.66 sec, and third – Katharine Berkoff with 57.98 sec.

Olympic runner-up from Tokyo, Kylie Masse (Canada) was fourth with 58.29 sec.

Swimming, 100m backstroke, women:
1. Kayleigh McKeon (Australia) – 57.33 sec, Olympic record
2. Reagan Smith (USA) – 57.66 sec
3. Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 57.98 sec
4. Kylie Masse (Canada) – 58.29 sec
5. Iona Anderson (Australia) – 58.98 sec
6. Ingrid Wilm (Canada) – 59.25 sec
7. Emma Terebo (France) – 59.40 sec
8. Beryl Gastaldello (France) – 59.80 sec