It was highly likely that a world record would fall this weekend on the final stop of the 2023 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, and it happened when Australia’s Kaylee McKeown broke the 15th long course world record of 2023, in Budapest on Friday, 20 October, 2023.
The 22-year-old Australian Kaylee McKeown now holds all three backstroke World Records, becoming the first to do so at the same time.
After missing the 50m backstroke World Record by 0.04 in Athens last week, McKeown raced to a 26.86 on Friday in the Duna Arena, the site of her first Worlds final in 2017, her first World title in 2022, and her third world record in 2023.
“I was also wondering if I could swim a World Record. I just wanted to get out fast tonight and see what I can do.
Triple Backstroke World Champion, Australia’s Kaylee McKeown
“The only thing I can keep dong is training hard and keep believing in myself and believing in my coach.”
McKeown is now the first person to hold the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke world records simultaneously since World Aquatics first started keeping track of 50m world records in 1997, and is also the first Australian to hold the World Record in the 50m backstroke since Sophie Edington set the mark, in 2008.
“I am obviously very very happy,” McKeown said. “I never saw myself as a sprinter so it’s really nice to have that under my belt. Next year is going to be a really tough year so the more confidence I can build, the better.”
McKeown lowered Liu Xiang’s 26.98 from 2018 as the Australian is officially the second swimmer under 27 and the triple crown winner on this World Cup circuit, giving her more credibility as one of the best backstrokers of all-time.
McKeown currently looks unstoppable for the 100m and 200m this weekend, as well as for 2024 if she can keep this up.
“I have been surprising myself since Berlin,” McKeown said. “I have been trying to do a couple of things differently and I am pleased that they are working.”
Butterfly Record for China’s Zhang Yufei
China’s a captured her third straight 200m butterfly win with a 2:05.65 to set the World Cup record set in 2015 by Cammile Adams (2:06.33) as Zhang is now fourth in the world in that event.
This bodes well for Zhang’s 100m butterfly on Sunday where she will tackle the world record, and her swim here in the 200m will put her back in the conversation for next summer’s Olympics.
“Yes, I got the World Cup Record and it’s amazing!” Zhang said. “There are no more 200 fly races for me in this World Cup. I am so happy with the race and the result.
“Yes, I won! Before the race I, was very nervous because I had won the two previous races and there was pressure. I had to prepare myself for tonight’s race while being nervous. Of course, I will continue to swim the 200 fly but I still think it’s a hard race.”
Zhang is the defending champion from Tokyo in the 200m butterfly, and is the third-fastest swimmer of all time. However, Zhang scratched the 200m from her program in the World Championships this year to rest herself for the mixed medley relay, which China took home gold.
Now she has three straight weekends of winning under her belt, going faster each week as she also turns her attention to a potential triple crown in the 100m butterfly and another potential showdown with Sarah Sjöström in the 50m butterfly tomorrow.
“Tomorrow I will race in the 50 fly,” Zhang said. “Sarah is my idol in the 50m free, and also the 50 fly, and I like to go to congratulate her after her races.”
In freestyle, Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström showed off her sprint prowess for the Budapest crowd by winning the 50m distance in 23.97, her ninth swim under 24 this year alone, with no one-else getting under the mark.
Sjöström finished off her triple crown with an additional $10,000 USD given to all the triple crown winners as she will go for the 50m butterfly triple crown on Saturday, with Zhang as her biggest challenger.
“I am super happy with that race! I am really happy to swim with these girls. It was a great swim at this time of the year. I am happy to continue to swim at a high level. My lowest level is at a very high level at the moment.
Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström
“I feel very fast, I didn’t feel that I did everything correctly but I could still swim a very good time even though I didn’t swim everything perfectly, I am going to remember this race and make a few corrections. Of course there are always details that can be improved on, whether it’s a breakout, or how you swim your race, there are lots of details. Swimming is a bit of a puzzle, you need a little bit more time to put all those pieces together but I still swam very well.”
Added Sjöström: “Tomorrow will be very tough, Zhang Yufei put up a very good 200 fly tonight. and I hope that I can put up a good swim tomorrow and see what happens.
McKeown, Zhang, and Sjöström are currently in a battle for the Women’s Swimming World Cup Overall Title as well, with McKeown leading the standings with 137.8 points ahead of Zhang’s 129.6 and Sjöström 129.3. Points are scored based on an athlete’s place in a final as well as their proximity to the existing world record, with each athlete scoring its three highest placing events.
Tes Schouten Stars in Breastroke
Meanwhile, Tes Schouten of the Netherlands was another triple crown winner on Friday, with a very impressive swim in the 200m breaststroke, breaking the World Cup record at 2:21.52 to lower her own mark from two weeks ago of 2:22.13.
It’s a new best time and Dutch record for Schouten as well, lowering her 2:21.63 from her bronze medal swim at the World Championships as she remains fifth in the world for 2023. Schouten, age 22, has quietly improved this year to be one of the best breaststrokers in the world and has certainly been a big boost for Dutch swimming.
“It was a PB and I didn’t expect the World Cup record, I expected a PB but maybe not today. I am happy with another World Cup Record and another win. My training is going well, I am having more fun than I ever have before.
Tes Schouten of the Netherlands
“My coach said to me, just go for it, you won’t die no matter what. He suggested that I think of the race as 4×50 instead of another 200. Fifty’s are sets that we do in practice, and that advice made a difference tonight.”
New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather also finished off her triple crown with a 4:02.35 in the 400m freestyle to start the session as the Worlds bronze medalist outlasted Australia’s Lani Pallister (4:03.43) in the process for the third straight weekend.
“I love racing the 400 free,” Fairweather said. “I am just so stoked. Lani always pushes me and I know we were watching each other the entire time. I was pleased with my time. It feels great to have won all three races in the World Cup this season.”
Photo Caption: Australia’s Kaylee McKeown pictured after winning the 50m backstroke World Record apart, in Budapest on Friday, 20 October, 2023. McKeown, China’s Zhang Yufei and Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström are currently in a battle for the Women’s Swimming World Cup Overall Title, with McKeown leading the standings with 137.8 points ahead of Zhang’s (129.6) and Sjöström (129.3). Photo: Istvan Derencsenyi/World Aquatics
Original Copy: Andy Ross, World Aquatics Correspondent
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