INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JUNE 18: Regan Smith of the United States reacts after setting the word record in the Women’s 100m backstroke final on Day Four of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium on June 18, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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Regan Smith opened her second leg of the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup by setting new American and World Cup records in the 200 fly. Claiming her second consecutive win, the 23-year-old improved her own American record, which she set last Friday at the first stop of the event in Carmel.
Smith posted a time of 2:00.20 in Westmont to take down eight hundredths of a second off her personal best. She fell short by a thin margin to break the 2:00 barrier to join the two fastest swimmers in the fly event, Canada’s Summer McIntosh (1:59.32) and Spain’s Mireia Belmonte (1:59.61).
“I want more from this event for sure,” she stated in a post-race interview. Smith was followed by Ireland’s Ellen Walshe in 2:04.38, improving her bronze from the last leg. Australia’s Brittany Castelluzzo placed third in 2:05.43.
So far, this meet has been reasonably successful for Smith, with three gold medals. Apart from dominating the fly event, the two-time Olympic gold medalist has also maintained a strong front in backstroke events as well. On Sunday, she managed to surpass long-time rival Kaylee McKeown to claim the gold in the 100 backstroke. The duo is most likely to face each other again, as Smith is expected to compete in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke races this weekend.
Smith’s teammate, Gretchen Walsh, also continues to maintain strong outings at her debut World Cup. On Friday, she clocked the third fastest time in 100 IM history. Touching the wall in 55.77, she shattered her own World Cup and U.S. Open records. Clocking the third-fastest closing 50 in history, Walsh lowered her 55.91 time from last weekend. The 22-year-old now holds six fastest times overall in 100 IM.
Kate Douglass placed second with a time of 56.42, a tenth slower than her personal best time ( 56.34). “I really think Kate pushes me a lot in that event, which makes me nervous — you’re like, ‘Someone else is ahead of me!’” Walsh said, highlighting her training partner’s role in her performances.
Notably, Walsh also added 50 backstroke to her roster this weekend. As Smith sat out of the event, she placed second in the event in 25.65, behind McKeown. Walsh is currently the second fastest swimmer in the event (short-course) behind Regan Smith.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/parasjan/2025/10/18/regan-smith-takes-down-american-record-at-swimming-world-cup/
