Australia's McKeown Wins Women's Olympic 200m Backstroke Gold

Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Aug, 2024) Australia's Kaylee McKeown completed the Olympic backstroke golden double Friday with victory in the 200m to go with her 100m title in Paris.

McKeown successfully defended her title in an Olympic record 2min 03.73sec ahead of American Regan Smith (2:04.26) and Canada's Kylie Masse (2:05.57).

The unassuming 23-year-old remains flawless over two Olympics with four golds from four individual events.

No Australian swimmer, male or female, had ever completed the 100-200 backstroke double at consecutive Olympics.

The world record holder was third at the halfway mark behind Smith and Masse but came home strongly in the sixth-fastest time ever.

It was another psychological blow on arch-rival Smith who she also beat to gold in the 100m.

The pair enjoy a storied rivalry, exchanging world records across both backstroke disciplines, but it is McKeown who has risen to the top again in Paris.