Regan Smith won two more medals Thursday at the world aquatics championships, taking silver in the 50-meter backstroke and bronze in the 200 butterfly in Fukuoka, Japan.
Regan Smith of Lakeville wins two more medals at world swim championships
The silver and bronze were the second and third of the meet for Regan Smith, who had only about a half hour between competing in the two events in Japan.
July 27, 2023 at 12:44PM
The Lakeville native had a busy night, with two finals only 30 minutes apart. In the 200 fly, she finished in 2 minutes, 6.58 seconds, behind Canada's Summer McIntosh (2:04.06) and Elizabeth Dekkers of Australia (2:05.46). After setting an American record in the 50 back semifinals on Wednesday, Smith was runner-up to Australian Kaylee McKeown in the final, finishing in 27.11 to McKeown's 27.08.
The medals were the second and third of the meet for Smith, who took silver behind McKeown in Tuesday's 100 back.
McIntosh, a 16-year-old phenom, was the defending world champion in the 200 fly. She ran away with the race, leading at each split and building a wide margin at the 150-meter mark. Her time set a junior world record, while Smith, the reigning Olympic silver medalist in the 200 fly, could not match the American record of 2:03.87 she set last month.
In Wednesday's 50 back semifinals, Smith swam a time of 27.10 to set her second U.S. record in 53 days. She was just .01 off that mark Thursday and .03 behind McKeown. Lauren Cox of Great Britain was third in 27.20.
The Afton, Minnesota native talks success, pressure, focus, and fun in this Q & A.
