“We had a special moment after the race,” McKeown said, “just thanking one another. Because I wouldn't be the athlete I am if (it) wasn't for her.”
In this ongoing edition of the great rivalry between the world’s top two swimming powers, an entire chapter had been set aside for Tuesday night’s clash of McKeown and Smith.
The race didn’t disappoint, with McKeown turning in an Olympic record time of 57.33 to beat Smith (57.66) and fellow American Katharine Berkoff (57.98), who took bronze.
“I want to call it a rivalry,” Smith said, “because we have traded world records and things like that. But she's always good at get it done when it matters. So I want to give her the credit where it's due. … She's a great racer, and she's a very genuine and respectful person. I think we have a really great relationship.”
Regan Smith (left), Kaylee McKeown and Katharine Berkoff in the women’s 100-meter backstroke medal ceremony during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Grace Hollars, USA TODAY Sports
Such nice words, you’d forget for a moment that this was the U.S.-Australia swimming rivalry we’re talking about. The one that has flared up of late with online videos and jabs back and forth, all with the underlining storyline of Australia being poised to finally overtake the U.S. in the pool in this Olympics.
Is that happening?
Well ... depends on how you want to look at it.
Is it total medals? Or is it gold medals?
The way this meet is trending, the United States is on pace to finish this Olympics with more swimming medals than Australia. But if it’s gold that you think should settle things in the pool, the Aussies have a better case.
The U.S. hasn’t won a swimming final at these games since Torri Huske edged Gretchen Walsh in the women’s 100 butterfly Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Australia has only won eight swimming medals, but half of those have been gold. That included McKeown’s win Tuesday night and Ariarne Titmus’ win over bronze medalist Katie Ledecky in Saturday’s women’s 400 freestyle.
Other American swimmers responded. A rivalry got more heated.
But it wasn’t just created in the past year.
“That rivalry is definitely not new,” McKeown said. “It's just there, I guess.”
And the 2024 Olympics likely won't settle many arguments about who's ahead.
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Reach Gentry Estes at gestes@gannett.com and follow him on social media @Gentry_Estes .
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