Kaylee McKeown and Regan Smith are set to reprise their Paris 2024 duel in the women’s 200m backstroke after both made it safely through to the event’s final at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Friday, 1 August.
McKeown, the reigning Olympic champion, swam in the lane next to USA’s Smith, who was second to her at the 2024 Olympic Games.
A world record holder in the 100m backstroke, Smith led at the 50m mark, but her teammate and defending world champion Claire Curzan took the lead shortly after and maintained it through to the finish to touch the wall in 2:08.13.
Australia’s McKeown sat midway in the ranking at the beginning of the race, but started moving up going into the 100m turn. She ultimately finished 0.23 seconds behind Curzan and well off her world record mark of 2:03.14.
Smith finished third in 2:08.67.
The first semifinal was a faster affair with Peng Xuwei of the People’s Republic of China winning the race in 2:07.76. Peng and fellow semifinal 1 qualifiers will swim against Curzan, McKeown and Smith on Saturday.