Swimming sensation Kaylee McKeown makes waves with back to back world record performances

Australia’s swimming sensation Kaylee McKeown has once again set the pool ablaze with her astounding performance at the World Cup meet in Budapest.

In a remarkable feat, McKeown shaved an impressive 0.12 seconds off her own mark in the 100-metre backstroke, clocking an extraordinary 57.33 on Sunday, October 22.

Her remarkable achievement comes on the heels of the World Cup’s opening night, a night that witnessed yet another awe-inspiring showcase of swimming mastery, where McKeown, once again, shattered a world record, leaving the entire swimming community in sheer amazement.

With a lightning-fast time of 26.86 seconds, McKeown surged to a new world record in the women’s 50 metre backstroke, effectively obliterating the previous record that had held its ground for five long years.

McKeown’s triumph is not just another accolade in her remarkable career, but a testament to her dominance in backstroke events. The Australian swimmer has already earned the distinction of being the first woman to hold world records in all three long-course backstroke disciplines. Her incredible performance dismantled the previous record of 26.98 seconds, which was set by China’s Liu Xiang in 2018.

While the 50 metre backstroke is not a feature in the Olympics, it is a highlight in the world championships. Back in July, McKeown etched her name in history by becoming the first swimmer to sweep the 50 metre, 100 metre, and 200 metre backstroke titles at a single world championships. Her supremacy also extended to the Tokyo Olympics, where she clinched the gold medals in the 100 metre and 200 metre backstroke events.

Kaylee McKeown still holds the World Record in ALL THREE backstroke events, but she just made one of them even faster ?

50 Back – 26.86 (WR – Yesterday)
100 Back – 57.33 (WR – Today)
200 Back – 2:03.14 (WR)

Best backstroker on the planet and maybe in history… pic.twitter.com/mfRBMkWb56

— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) October 21, 2023

McKeown’s meteoric rise in the world of swimming has been nothing short of astonishing. She first claimed the 100 metre backstroke world record in June 2021 and then shattered the 200 metre backstroke world record in March of the current year.

Commenting on her phenomenal achievements, McKeown modestly stated, “I just wanted to get out fast tonight and see what I can do.”

“I am super stoked with that … the only thing I can keep doing is training hard and keep believing in myself and believing in my coach. I never saw myself as a sprinter, so it’s really nice to have that under my belt.”

As she looks ahead to the future, McKeown recognises that the upcoming year will be a tough challenge. Her focus is on building confidence and continuing to surprise herself and the world.

“Next year is going to be a really tough year so the more confidence I can build, the better,” she said.

“I have been surprising myself since Berlin. I have been trying to do a couple of things differently, and I am pleased that they are working.”