On Tuesday, Australia beat the United States in a high-profile match at the 2024 Olympics, but Regan Smith was narrowly defeated by longtime rival Kayleigh McKeon.
McKean won the gold medal in the women’s 100-meter backstroke, touching the wall 0.33 seconds ahead of Smith and beating her own Olympic record in the event by 0.14 seconds.
Also on Saturday, top American swimmer Katie Ledecky lost in the 400-meter freestyle to Ariarne Titmus of Australia, with the Australian swimmer winning her second gold medal in the event and Ledecky finishing with bronze.
Fans in the stands erupted as McKeon and Smith sprinted side-by-side to the edge of the pool, with McKeon taking a slight lead in the final meters of the race to win the gold medal.
McKeon also won in Tokyo three years ago, making this his second consecutive gold medal at this tournament.
The 23-year-old Australian’s impressive win on Tuesday came during what many fans were hoping would be a comeback season for Smith.
Smith had just set another world record in the 100 backstroke in June, clocking 57.13 seconds at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
She achieved this record as a teenager in 2019, but lost it to McKeon at the 2021 Olympics.
2024 Paris Olympics
The then 19-year-old came into Tokyo as a favorite to win, but could only manage a bronze medal at the event.
Smith also won silver in the 200m butterfly and 400m medley relay in Tokyo and is scheduled to compete in both events in Paris later this week.
She is the top American athlete qualified for the 2024 Olympics in the 200 backstroke and could have a chance to win her first gold medal before the end of the tournament.
Although McKeon broke the Olympic record, Smith’s world record in the 100m backstroke was not broken. Smith’s previous record of 57.13 seconds was not broken.
American swimmer Kathryn Berkoff finished just behind Smith to earn Team USA the bronze medal, and two American flags were raised during the awards ceremony.
Smith and McKeon will get a chance to face off again Wednesday in the 200 backstroke.
