Regan Smith showcased her dominance in the women's 100-meter backstroke event at the U.S. swimming trials by setting a new world record on Tuesday night. With a remarkable time of 57.13 seconds, Smith surpassed the previous record of 57.33 set by Australia's Kaylee McKeown.
After narrowly missing out on a spot in the Olympics during her first race, Smith's outstanding performance in her signature event secured her a place in the upcoming Games for the second time. Expressing her joy and satisfaction, Smith mentioned that her record-breaking swim was part of her strategic plan.
Smith's exceptional achievement marked the second world record set at the trials, following Gretchen Walsh's record in the 100 butterfly semifinals. With a bronze medal in the 100 backstroke at the Tokyo Olympics, Smith has now positioned herself as a top contender for the gold in Paris.
In another final event of the night, Bobby Finke secured his opportunity to defend the 800 freestyle gold he claimed in Tokyo with a strong performance clocking in at 7 minutes and 44.22 seconds. Finke faced tough competition from 18-year-old Luke Whitlock, who set a national age-group record with a time of 7:45.19. Whitlock's impressive swim is likely to earn him a spot in his first Olympics as the second U.S. representative in the event.
Katharine Berkoff also secured an expected Olympic spot for the U.S. by finishing with a time of 57.91 in the women's 100-meter backstroke event. The night's competitions showcased remarkable talent and fierce competition among the top swimmers vying for a chance to represent the United States on the international stage.
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