Watch Regan Smith in 100 Back, USA Medley Relay Shatter World Records in Same Race (Race Video)

Regan Smith reacts to her split leading off the medley relay. Photo Courtesy: PATRICK B. KRAEMER

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Regan Smith has gone from future star to present superstar with her week a the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

The U.S. teen shattered Missy Franklin‘s record in the 200 backstroke earlier in the meet, then put the exclamation point on her stellar meet with another world record — actually two — as she led off the 4×100 medley relay with a 57.57 to break the 100 back world record (Kathleen Baker 58.00), then the relay won the world record in 3:50.40.

After Smith obliterated the world mark of 58.00 to jumpstart the United States, Lilly King, Kelsi Dahlia and Simone Manuel flourished on their legs to help Team USA lop more than a second off the previous world record of 3:51.55. King on breaststroke (1:04.81) and Manuel on freestyle (51.86) produced the fastest splits on their legs while Dahlia (56.16) had the second-fastest butterfly leg.

“After what I did in the 200 back, I was feeling really confident and really excited, and I had a really good feeling going in,” Smith said. “I was super, super happy when I finished.”

The Aussies easily claimed the silver medal as Minna Atherton, Jessica Hanson, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell touched in 3:53.42. Canada earned the bronze.

Results

1. United States 3:50.40
2. Australia 3:53.42
3. Canada 3:53.58
4. Italy 3:56.50
5. China 3:57.11
6. Japan 3:58.14
7. Sweden 3:58.39
8. Great Britain 3:59.38

Full results here.

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MK Mahoney

4 years ago

Awesome ladies

Susan Strickland Scruggs

4 years ago

Emma Scruggs

IHB

4 years ago

The men 20-24 stars are going to shine in the Tokyo Olympics. The women not so much. The young female stars that have already come out will shine in the Paris Olympics. Watch out for new male stars after the Tokyo Olympics, they will show up in the Paris Olympics just like the female young stars show up in this Worlds.

Susan L. Lansbury

4 years ago

Alice O’Leary McClenahan ?

Mary Kay Wenner Morris

4 years ago

Congratulations!!! Fantastic swimming by all of you!!???

Thomas A. Small

4 years ago

Congratulations

Aquatic Jobs Network

4 years ago

Nice

Suzie Szmolyan Morrow

4 years ago

Fast!!

Michon Anderson

4 years ago

Fantastic!

BJ Bedford

4 years ago

Reading this, I just looked up at our World Record certificate from the 2000 Games – 3:58! And we were fast! Of course, Reagan Smith was four seconds faster than my backstroke leg. So proud of these women and of the USA! Amazing lead in to Tokyo!!