Commonwealth Games, Day Three Finals: Iona Anderson Upsets Kylie Masse for 100 Backstroke Gold
Iona Anderson of Australia won the Commonwealth Games title in the women’s 100 backstroke in a time of 58.71, the 20-year-old rallying from a deficit at the 50-meter mark. Anderson flipped second in a time of 28.51, but closed the race with the fastest final 50, splitting 30.2. That finishing speed was the best in the field and helped her atone for a sixth-place finish in the 200 backstroke.
Anderson is no stranger to the international podium. At the 2024 World Championships, she finished second in both the 50 and 100 backstroke. En route to her title, Anderson tracked down Canadian Kylie Masse, a multi-time Olympic medalist and longtime presence on the backstroke scene.
Anderson’s time of 58.71 just missed the Commonwealth Games record of 58.60, set by Kaylee McKewon at the 2022 Games. Australia has never failed to miss the podium in the women’s 100 back at the Commonwealth Games. Even though Anderson missed the record, she helped continue a historic streak.
Masse finished in second place for the second Commonwealth Games in a row. The 2018 champion took the race out fast, turning in a time of 28.07, only .13 off the world-record split. Unfortunately for Masse, her second 50 split of 30.7 was much slower than Anderson’s. The silver accounted for Masse’s 10th Commonwealth Games medal.
Anderson beating Masse was not the only upset of this race. Olivia Nel of South Africa was seeded fifth coming into the race. Nel swam to a new best time of 1:00.09 and finished in third place. Like Anderson, Nel had a strong final 50. She split 31.0 and moved from fifth to third.