World Championships, Day Three Men’s Finals: Kieran Smith Wins 400 Free In American Record

Kieran Smith: Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

A Special Thanks to Deep Blue Media for providing the images from this meet

World Championships, Day Three Men’s Finals: Kieran Smith Wins 400 Free In American Record

Kieran Smith held off the late challenge of Thomas Neill to take the 400 free title in an American record at the World Championships in Melbourne.

The Tokyo 400 free bronze medallist took over the lead on the fifth 25 and led thereafter and came home to win in 3:34.38, lowering the national record of 3:34.81 that had stood to Peter Vanderkaay since February 2009.

The 22-year-old is only the second American man to win the title and the first since Chad Carvin in Athens in March 2000, two months before Smith was born.

Neill was second in 3:35.05 with Danys Rapsys adding bronze to his 2021 silver in 3:36.26.

It was a dominant performance by Smith who led at 25 before Katsuhiro Matsumoto went 0.02 ahead at 50.

Smith held a 1.08 lead over Neill at 200 with the Australian gradually eating into the deficit from lane two.

From 0.94 at the 350 mark, Neill reduced it to 0.64 at the final turn but Smith was not going to be caught and claimed the win by 0.67.

Smith, who won relay gold at Budapest worlds in June and at the Abu Dhabi edition last year, said through USA Swimming:

“That race was fantastic. It felt really strong from the start. I felt a lot of confidence when I built such a big lead at the 200, then I was fighting on the last 100 but I got it done.”

“It is the first time that I have been at the top of the (individual) podium so it’s a new chapter in my career. It was an exciting race and I knew that those guys were going to be tough but I was ready.”

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