Olympics berth in hand, Regan Smith is back in the pool for 200 butterfly

OMAHA — About 15 hours after making the Olympic team, Regan Smith went right back to work. Except this time, it didn't feel like work.

Smith, of Lakeville, expected to have a lot more fun at the U.S. Olympic trials Wednesday after locking up a place on the team for the Tokyo Games with Tuesday's victory in the women's 100-meter backstroke. Her relaxed attitude put her closer to adding a second event to her Olympic schedule. Wednesday, Smith cruised to the second-best time in the semifinals of the women's 200 butterfly, launching her into the finals at CHI Health Center.

Though Smith gained her fame via the backstroke, she is smitten with the butterfly. Her semifinal time of 2 minutes, 7.89 seconds trailed only Hali Flickinger, the 2019 world silver medalist in the event, who finished in 2:06.73.

The finals are Thursday night, with the winner earning an automatic Olympic berth and the runner-up expected to be named to the team later this week.

On day four of the trials, Katie Ledecky continued to dominate the women's distance freestyle events, locking up two more Olympic spots with victories in the 200 free and 1,500 free. Others who made the Olympic team were Alex Walsh (women's 200 individual medley), Zach Harting (men's 200 butterfly) and three who finished behind Ledecky in the 200 free: Allison Schmitt, Paige Madden and Katie McLaughlin.

"I'm pretty pleased with both those races," Smith said of her 200 fly. "I think I executed well. Hopefully, it will all come together [Thursday]."

After winning the women's 100 backstroke, Smith said it was a relief to make the Olympic team. She has shouldered high expectations since setting two world records in 2019 and was considered a lock to reach the Tokyo Games.

That made the first few days of the trials extremely stressful. Her victory lifted the pressure, Smith said, leaving her free to enjoy the rest of the meet. She also will race the 200 back later this week.

Before the trials, Smith said she believes she is "capable of doing something really, really great" in the 200 fly at the Olympic trials. She has worked hard to improve in the event and set a national age-group record in 2020 with a personal-best mark of 2:06.39. Smith entered the trials as the No. 2 seed in the 200 fly, behind Flickinger, and got valuable experience by finishing second to Flickinger at a Pro Swim Series meet last month.

Despite her victory Tuesday, Smith is eager to keep refining her form in the 100 back, too. Australia's Kaylee McKeown broke Smith's world record Sunday, laying down a challenge for Smith before the two face off in Tokyo.

Smith said she has a "great relationship" with McKeown and sent her a congratulatory text, adding she was very happy to see the Australian seize the world record after coming close several times. She has found inspiration in McKeown's sustained excellence, perhaps now more than ever.

"It's just motivating me to put my head down now that I've made it," Smith said. "Now that I can compete with her head to head, it's making me really excited to train for a little bit, clean some things up and see what I can do in Tokyo.

"Now that this part is behind me, I'm full steam ahead, ready to go."