Australia's Kaylee McKeown underlined her backstroke dominance with a world championships double after winning the 200m in Singapore on Saturday.
McKeown again got the better of Regan Smith, touching the wall in a championships-record 2min 03.33sec to beat her American arch-rival into second place in 2:04.29.
Another American, Claire Curzan, was third in 2:06.04.
🇦🇺 Kaylee McKeown chasing her personal best time sets a New Championships Record in the Women’s 200m Backstroke 🤯 2:03.33#AQUASingapore25 #Swimming pic.twitter.com/yk4WhZMLl8
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) August 2, 2025
McKeown picked up the 100m backstroke gold earlier this week in Singapore – also beating Smith into second – for her sixth career world title.
She also won the 100-200 backstroke double at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.
McKeown made a fast start but Smith held on and overtook her rival heading into the final lap.
McKeown switched up the gears to regain the lead and power towards the finish, although she fell just short of her own world record.