Regan Smith wins first short course swimming world title, leads U.S. one-two in backstroke

Regan Smith added her first short course world title to her gold medal collection, leading a U.S. one-two in the 100m backstroke on Wednesday.

Smith won the 100m back at short course worlds in Budapest. She clocked 54.55 seconds, just off her world record of 54.27 set on Nov. 1. It’s the third-fastest time in history.

Olympic bronze medalist Katharine Berkoff earned silver Wednesday, touching the wall in 54.93.

Smith, 22, previously won Olympic silver medals in the 100m and 200m backstrokes in Paris, plus world titles in the 100m back in 2022 and the 200m back in 2019 in a 50-meter pool.

SHORT COURSE WORLDS: Full Results | Broadcast Schedule

Short course worlds are held in a 25-meter pool, unlike most major international meets.

Smith has been busy since the Paris Games. She competed at all three legs of the World Aquatics World Cup series (also in short course pools) in October and November, breaking world records in the 100m and 200m backstrokes.

“All my coaches at ASU (Arizona State) and Texas have been great about letting me have a lot of patience this fall and training when I want to and have a lot of fun and flexibility with short course,” she said.

Smith prevailed Wednesday in the absence of Australian Kaylee McKeown, who swept the backstroke golds at the last two Olympics.

Also Wednesday, Gretchen Walsh won her first senior individual global title, taking the 50m butterfly in 24.01 seconds.

She swam the three fastest times in history in the event over the last two days across her preliminary heat (24.02), semifinal (23.94) and final.

“No record can compare to a title like that,” she said. “To be a world champion is the coolest thing ever.”

Walsh also swam the second-fastest time in history in the 100m freestyle semifinals on Wednesday, going 50.49. That trails only Australian Cate Campbell’s world record of 50.25 from 2017. Walsh broke the American record of 50.82 set by Kate Douglass on Nov. 2.

Short course worlds continue with more finals Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET, live on Peacock.