After sweeping the three backstroke events as well as winning the 100m butterfly in a personal record in Fort Lauderdale, USA last week, Team USA Olympic medallist Regan Smith has her sights firmly set on the upcoming World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
After winning the 50m backstroke on Thursday and the 200m backstroke on Friday, Regan Smith made it four-for-four after winning the 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly within a 30-minute window on the penultimate day of the 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series meet in Florida (USA).
Smith decisively won the 100m backstroke in 57.92, not far off her personal record (and former World Record) in the event when she swam 57.57 at the World Aquatics Championships – Gwangju 2019. Her margin of victory in Fort Lauderdale was 1.79 seconds over second-place finisher Olivia Smoliga.
Smith’s 100m backstroke performance set a new TYR Pro Swim record as the 21-year-old now holds the fastest time of the year in 2023.
Smith’s Saturday night continued with her winning the 100m butterfly in 56.60, setting a new personal best. Soon after World Aquatics caught up with the current 200m backstroke world record holder and defending world champion in the 100m backstroke.
Regan, did you ever doubt you could pull off the Saturday night double?
Tonight during my cool down between the events I was worried. I was thinking, ‘Gosh can I pull this off?’ but it could not have gone better. I am so pleased that I was able to have a great double. I felt awesome and the race went a lot better than I expected. I was expecting to die having the 100m back and the 100m fly so close together, but it went really well. I haven't dropped time in that event in almost three years so I am really really happy.”
From the pool deck to the pool, you looked in control and that you were really enjoying racing here in Fort Lauderdale.
It's so much fun to be here. If I die, I die, just go for it! Having a big crowd here gets my energy up and it helps me prepare. I love meets like this and I look forward to meets that are coming up.
How does this set you up for the upcoming World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka?
“It’s never a guarantee, but I hope to qualify in multiple events for the USA team going to Worlds. I hope that I will have a really great meet that can set me up for next summer (US Olympic Trials and Paris 2024 Olympic Games). I think I have a lot to prove this summer and I am excited to train for the next 90 days and see what I can do this summer.”