Regan Smith
Regan Smith takes back the world record in the 100 backstroke in 57″13 and wins the Olympic pass that had eluded her in the 100 butterfly, where the first world record of these American Olympic Trials had fallen in the Lukas Oil football stadium in Indianpolis temporarily used as a swimming pool. Gretchen Walsh achieved it in the semifinal in 55″18. Thirty cents as many as Smith shaved off the record that was canceled and taken away from Olympian Kaylee McKeown, who on October 21st at the World Cup in Budapest had dropped to 57″33 and last week had failed to correct the record now lost in 57 ″41. Smith had held the record since the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, when she swam 57″ 57 in the first leg of the mixed relay. Then McKeown broke it in 57″45 during the 2021 Olympic trials for Tokyo and then improved it in Budapest. Now Regan re-establishes the hierarchies and announces one of the most uncertain and exciting duels for the Games. The American’s record had faltered in the semi-final with Smith stopping at 57 ″ 47, and in the water already at the fifty meter turn she was faster than the Australian Olympian (27 ″ 94 against 28 ″ 15). Smith’s second fifty meters were sublime: 29″19 for a touch at 57″13 which is now not that far from the 57″ wall. Katherine Berkoff qualified with Regn in 57″91. The twenty-two year old from Lakeville, Minnesota, trains with Bob Bowman, Michael Phelps’ historic coach. She proved herself in the 200 backstroke, she then distinguished herself in the 100 backstroke (bronze in Tokyo, world gold 2022) and dedicated herself to the 200 butterfly, in which she won silver in Tokyo (silver also in the 4 × 100 medley relay men women). In total she boasts 5 gold medals and 9 world championship podiums.
Her first words: “It was part of the plan, I’m very proud of myself. The backstroke is sometimes difficult for me, but fighting like this and recovering this record means a lot.”
Bobby Finke is the other winner of the second final of the day: in the 800 of which he is the 2021 Olympic champion (over Paltrinieri) and American record holder in 7’38″67, he swims in 7’44″22, giving 97 cents to Luke Whitlock who oustes Daniel Matheson by 4″.
Chris Giuliano takes turns (47″25) with the other twenty-one year old Jack Alexy, who after a kamikaze passage at 22″25 resists and reaches 47″33 (however worsening the 47″08 of the battery), enough to collect a time 20 hundredths better than that of Dressel who tonight in the final will have to battle with the two teenagers to avoid a sensational exclusion from the 100 freestyle at the Paris Games, where he would go on to defend the Tokyo title, the edition in which he was another boy and maybe even another swimmer. But Dressel is there and is also fighting with them to compose a fast relay for the outgoing gold in the presence of the Azzurri. The spectacle of the 100 at the Indianapolis trials is in these semi-finals all of the best 16 in the race of races. Torri Huske was the fastest in the women’s 100 freestyle and the only one under 53″, exactly 52″90: chasing the Rio Olympian, Simone Manuel at 53″16 and the multi-purpose twenty-two year old Kate Douglass.
Luca Urlando will have lane number 4 in the final of the 200 dolphin thanks to a time of 1’54″64: above all, Thomas Heilman, born in 2007, will be hot on his heels, also under 1’55” in the specialty which saw Michael Phelps at Indianapolis 2000 qualifying for the Games for the first time at 14. Finally, Matt Fallon achieved the best time of the semi-finals in the 200 breaststroke in 2’07″39, the second American time ever, 22 hundredths of a second from Josh Prenot’s national record.
Final results. Men, 800 freestyle Finke 7’44″22 (3’49″48), Whittlock 7’45″19, Matheson 7’49″34, 4. Johnston 7’50″23, 5. Dant 7’54″56.
Women, 100 backstroke Regan Smith 57″13 (world record), Berkoff 57″91, Noble 58″81, 4. Fuller 59″03, 5. White 59″07.
Semifinals. Men, 100 freestyle Giuliano 47″25 (22″61), Alexy 47″33 (22″25, b. 47″08), Dressel 47″53 (22″93), 4. Armstrong 47″59 (23″14 ), 5. Lasco 47″90 (23″08), 6. McDuff 48″04 (23″16), 7. Held 48″05, 8. King 48″11.
200 breaststroke Fallon 2’07″39, Pouch 2’08″00, Matheny 2’08″79, 4. Jake Foster 2’09″57, 6. Fink 2’09″80.
200 butterfly Screaming 1’54″64 (54″22), Heilman (07) 1’54″93, Laur 1’55″05, 4. Rose 1’55″25.
Women, 100 freestyle Huske 52″90 (25″20), Manuel 53″16 (25″71, bat. 53″09), Douglass 53″21 (25″75), 4. Gretchen Walsh 53″33 (25″ 44), 5. Weitzeil 53″66, 6. Nelson 53″92.
