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Regan Smith on Racing Australians: “I want to show up in a better way than I did last year”

2024 TYR PRO SWIM SERIES – SAN ANTONIO

At the San Antonio Pro Swim, Regan Smith put up a batch of swift times, something we are used to seeing from the world champion during the regular season. We have also become accustomed to seeing a back-and-fourth between Smith and Australian Kaylee McKeown, who similarly swims very fast in-season, albeit on the other side of the world.

When Smith was asked about McKeown, Smith made it clear that she respects McKeown as a competitor and often uses her as motivation in training and competition.

Smith earned silver medals in the 50, 100, and 200 backstroke at the 2023 World Championships last summer, all behind Kaylee McKeown. Smith emphasized that she would like to show up in a better way this summer than she did last summer.

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Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
6 months ago

I hope Regan Smith shows up the GA SA Speedo Atlanta Classic scheduled in May.

https://www.swimcloud.com/results/274527/

DK99
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
6 months ago

I think Bowman said he was headed to the one in Irvine so she might be there

Last edited 6 months ago by DK99
Eddie
6 months ago

Everyone has to listen to Regan Smith on Missy Franklin and Katie Hoff’s podcast. She’s in a great head space right now and one thing she’s working on is performing when it matters. I expect both Kaylee and Regan to bring their best this summer – and I guess we’ll have to see who wins in the end.

jeff
Reply to  Eddie
6 months ago

That was a really illuminating podcast, to get a glimpse of what her mental state has been like in the past couple years. One notable clip of what I remember, for those who haven’t listened to it: she said that after breaking the WRs, the primary emotion driving her backstroke races (esp the 200) was fear and that the most scared she’s ever been was right before the 200 back at Trials in 2021, where she was mostly just relieved that she wouldn’t have the swim it in Tokyo

Mr Piano
Reply to  Eddie
6 months ago

Yeah I’m really loving their podcasts lately. The one with Caeleb was very informative and inspiring well.

Last edited 6 months ago by Mr Piano
RealCrocker5040
6 months ago

All bias aside I will say that Kaylee does have the edge when it comes down to performing when it actually matters.

Regan, apart from Gwangju 2019, has never been able to come through for an individual gold on the world stage in any race.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
6 months ago

comment image

Sub13
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
6 months ago

She did win an individual gold in 2022 to be fair but her time was much slower than her semi so that could easily have lost it for her

Australia Kings
6 months ago

Here we go again! Hyping up American swimmers when the Aussies are better! How many times does Kaylee have to win?

Sub13
Reply to  Australia Kings
6 months ago

And what do you know! Right after I say the trolls are back here they are lol

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Australia Kings
6 months ago

The cockroach infestation has commenced.

swimswimaus
Reply to  Australia Kings
6 months ago

Exactly. Kaylee is the backstroke queen. As of yet, she is unbeaten by Smith. This is like the Titmus VS Ledecky. Ledecky was always going to win the 1500. She has something like 13 of the fastest 15 times in that event. But for the shorter distances, It was a good pitting.

Comet16
Reply to  swimswimaus
6 months ago

Conveniently forgetting 2019 and 2022.

Troyy
Reply to  Comet16
6 months ago

You’re right about 2019 but Kaylee didn’t swim the 100 back in 2022 nor Regan the 200 back.

swimswimaus
Reply to  Troyy
6 months ago

yes, partly covid’s fault though.

Lisa
Reply to  swimswimaus
6 months ago

You mean 800 right like I think Titmus is also in 800 and not in 1500 and and she’s never beat Ledecky in that events.

Last edited 6 months ago by Lisa
Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  swimswimaus
6 months ago

Review how far down Ariarne Titmus ranks in the all-time performance list in the women’s 800 meter freestyle.

https://www.worldaquatics.com/swimming/rankings?gender=F&distance=800&stroke=FREESTYLE&poolConfiguration=LCM&year=all&startDate=&endDate=&timesMode=ALL_TIMES&regionId=all&countryId=

Try 33rd.

Titmus has never beaten Katie Ledecky in the women’s 800 meter freestyle. As a matter of fact, Katie Ledecky’s latest performance in the women’s 800 meter freestyle at the most recent 2024 TYR Pro Swim Series is faster than Ariarne’s personal best time.

Luis
Reply to  swimswimaus
6 months ago

Smith beat Kaylee on the back split of the 4×100 medley in Fukuoka.

This is perhaps the most interesting rivalry in the swimming world for me right now.
Deep down I root for Reagan for how much of herself she puts into the sport and I think she deserves it for her immense talent.
But Kaylee is simply a freak of nature and monster performances seem to come more naturally to her, she’s also a bit taller which makes a huge difference at this level.
If I had to put money on the line, I’d have to rationally put it on Kaylee, but I’d love it if Smith wins.

‘Murica
Reply to  Australia Kings
6 months ago

Australia is known for choking

swimswimaus
Reply to  ‘Murica
6 months ago

regan smith*

Troyy
Reply to  swimswimaus
6 months ago

Casas

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  swimswimaus
6 months ago

Try C1 & C2 for starters. Neither have ever won an individual gold medal at the Summer Olympics. The biggest choke job in women’s swimming during the post supersuit era was the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Neither C1 or C2 even stood on the podium during the awards ceremony. To add insult to injury, neither C1 or C2 won an individual medal in the women’s 50 meter freestyle at the aforementioned international competition.

At least that’s a better result than the 2012 Summer Olympics when C1 & C2 failed to qualify for the final of the women’s 50 meter freestyle. I’ll repeat, failed to qualify for the final. I could not have written a finer… Read more »

JoeB
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
6 months ago

Regan Smith has won how many individual Olympic gold medals? Did she even swim the 200 backstroke in Tokyo? Oh, that’s right. She couldn’t even make the team in the 200. So, for starters, what’s worse, ”choking” at the Olympics, or ”choking” at your country’s trials and not even making the event where you broke the world record?

Mako
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
6 months ago

God, the comments section of SwimSwam can be such a toxic place.

What is preventing you from enjoying these amazing but human athletes?

Troyy
Reply to  ‘Murica
6 months ago

Been quite a lot of American chokers in recent years.

JoeB
Reply to  ‘Murica
6 months ago

Regan Smith’s personal best in the 100 backstroke was set in 2019, the same year she set her personal best in the 200 backstroke, according to Google. It’s 2024. What’s the word for someone who hasn’t set a personal best for five years in either the 100 or 200 backstroke?

RealCrocker5040
Reply to  Australia Kings
6 months ago

We will see about that when the McChoker loses to daddy Dressel in Paris

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Australia Kings
6 months ago

.com versus .au

Get it?

Hooked on Chlorine
Reply to  Australia Kings
6 months ago

In answer to your question: infinity. We are talking about Americans here.

ZThomas
Reply to  Australia Kings
6 months ago

When you started with “here we go again” I thought you were going to bring up Aussie under-performance at the Olympics.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  ZThomas
6 months ago

The last time the Summer Olympics were hosted in Europe (London 2012), Australian swimming won one gold medal in the pool competition. That’s right, one measly gold medal.

If you add the results of the open water competition, it’s still one measly gold medal.

Last edited 6 months ago by Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
chickenlamp
Reply to  Australia Kings
6 months ago

The comments section was so nice during NCAAs…right back to trolls galore I see

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
6 months ago

Can somewhere confirm that Michelle Tafoya will not conduct the on deck post race interviews at the Olympic Team Trials and Summer Olympic Games for NBC/Peacock.

Awsi Dooger
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
6 months ago

She has departed sports broadcasting and is now devoted to lies, fear and exclusion

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
6 months ago

If Coleman is based in the city that Katie Ledecky rocked a World Record in the W 800 FR (LCM) at the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series, how about the following interviews:

Cox, Jillian
Gemmell, Erin
Jacoby, Lydia
Sullivan, Erica

Last edited 6 months ago by Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
I miss the ISL (go dawgs)
6 months ago

I’m sure this will be a comment section where everyone will get along nicely and have some nice civil discourse and not go for personal attacks

Sub13
Reply to  I miss the ISL (go dawgs)
6 months ago

Lol. Seems fine so far. But you can see the Olympics trolls are already emerging. I suspect it’s only going to get worse until after Paris.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  I miss the ISL (go dawgs)
6 months ago

Except for a certain fan base that is arrogant, obnoxious, and downright rude.

Yikes
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
6 months ago

As an American I invite you to look in the mirror, relay names guy. You’re embarrassing

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Yikes
6 months ago

Take a hike.

RealCrocker5040
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
6 months ago

No u

Comet16
6 months ago

Kaylee has improved her “weaker” part of her race (first 50). Now it’s up to Regan to show she has improved her “weaker” part of her race (the last 50). This is her first full season with bowman so will see if training there really made the difference!

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Comet16
6 months ago

Regan Smith attended Stanford University during the 2021-2022 NCAA Season not the 2022-2023 NCAA Season.

https://staging2.swimswam.com/world-record-holder-regan-smith-to-leave-stanford-turn-pro-join-bob-bowman/

Awsi Dooger
Reply to  Comet16
6 months ago

It’s really only the final 10% of the race, not the final 50. Under international pressure Regan typically begins to weaken at backstroke in the final 20 at 200, last 10 at 100, and 5 at 50.

200 butterfly is different. She has greater strategy variance and can weaken earlier.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

Read More »