Australia’s Kaylee McKeown smashes women’s 100m backstroke world record

Teenager Kaylee McKeown smashed the women’s 100m backstroke world record, touching in 57.45sec at the Australian Olympic trials in Adelaide.

Kaylee McKeown realises she has broken the world on Sunday night. Picture: Getty Images

Teenager Kaylee McKeown smashed the women’s 100m backstroke world record on Sunday, touching in 57.45sec at the Australian Olympic trials in Adelaide.

The 19-year-old, who has been in blistering form this year, swam a scorching race to sweep past American rival Regan Smith’s all-time mark of 57.57, set at the 2019 world championships.

Emily Seebohm celebrates qualifying for her fourth Olympics. Picture: Getty Images

McKeown turned in 28.10 and was never under threat as she powered to the finish. Veteran Emily Seebohm hit the wall second in 58.59 to also book her place in Tokyo in what will be her fourth Olympics.

“I just can’t believe it. I just wanted to come in tonight and blow out the cobwebs,” McKeown said poolside in Adelaide with tears in her eyes.

“It’s been a huge year for me and my family. It’s been 10 months since my dad passed today. So with that behind me and doing that I think he would be very proud.”

McKeown, whose father died from brain cancer, is shaping up to be a serious multiple gold medal contender in Japan.

She is also expected to qualify in the 200m backstroke, having recently set the fourth quickest time in history, and the 200m individual medley, where she owns the world’s best time this season.

Australia won 10 medals in the pool at the 2016 Games in Rio, matching their feat from London four years earlier, but well down on the 20 they clinched in Beijing in 2008.

Kaylee McKeown, right, hugs Emily Seebohm in Adelaide on Sunday night. Picture: Getty Images)