Kaylee McKeown Wins 200m Backstroke Gold at World Championships

Kaylee McKeown of Australia solidified her dominance in backstroke swimming by winning the women's 200m backstroke at the World Aquatics Championships with a championship-record time of 2:03.33, the third fastest swim ever. She outpaced American Regan Smith, who finished nearly a second behind, continuing a rivalry that saw Smith take silver behind McKeown in both the 100m and 200m events at the Paris Olympics and again in Singapore. McKeown's victory in the 200m came after her earlier gold in the 100m backstroke, confirming her status as the undisputed queen of backstroke. Australian Cameron McEvoy also made headlines by winning his second 50m freestyle title, becoming the oldest Australian swimming world champion at 31 and sharing his experience as a new father. Additionally, U.S. swimmer Gretchen Walsh won the 50m butterfly, contributing to the U.S. team's medal tally. The championships showcased strong performances from both Australian and American swimmers, highlighting fierce international competition.