FINA World Swimming Short Course Championships 2022 Kaylee McKeown claims gold in 200m backstroke
Kaylee McKeown added a gold medal in the 200m backstroke to go along with the 100m gong she won earlier in the week, rounding out a stellar few days in the pool for the Australian contingent at the World Swimming Championships
McKeown was under world record pace – set by herself in Brisbane two years ago – in Melbourne for much of the race, but ended with a time of 1.59.26 – just over three tenths of a second off that milestone.
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There was no world record, but plenty to smile about.
The Australian did well to hold off Claire Curzan of the United States, who ended with a time of 2.00.53.
“Kaylee McKeown, take a bow,” Giaan Rooney said on commentary.
“That was a tough race, you could see that. Claire Curzan was not letting her go. Kaylee took it out hard, knew she wanted to be the one to set the pace, knowing Claire was swimming well.”
Despite falling short, Rooney believed that had the schedule lined up differently the world record would have been beaten.
“That world record is still in play, I know that sounds silly, but for her, she was under it for so much of that race. It shows that this is an event at the end of this program, she’s had a big program, and if the 200 backstroke was earlier in the program, that would have been a world record tonight.”
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