Kaylee McKeown Still Rules Olympic Backstroke, Beating Regan Smith in Women’s 100 Meters

Gold medalist Kaylee McKeown of Australia (C) stands with silver medalist Regan Smith of the United States (L) and bronze medalist Katherine Berkoff of the United States on the podium for a selfie following the women's 100-meter backstroke final at the Olympics in Nanterre, France, on July 30, 2024. Matthias Schrader/AP Photo

NANTERRE, France—When it’s time to race, Kaylee McKeown is sure hard to beat.

American Regan Smith came into the women’s 100-meter backstroke at the Paris Olympics with the world record and no shortage of confidence.