NSW State Championships, Night One: Kaylee McKeown Fires Off An Opening Shot of 2:04.57 To Win The 200m Backstroke After Just Two Weeks Training
Australia’s four-time Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown has started 2025 with a bang, after pumping out a solid 2:04.57 to win the 200m backstroke on the opening night of the NSW State Championships in Sydney tonight – and after just two weeks of training.
It keeps her eight-year unbeaten record intact at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre in what was a most impressive display after nine sessions – by the 23-year-old Queenslander who holds the world record at 2:03.14.
It was the 18sth fastest time ever swum and gives the the two-time double Olympic backstroke champion from Tokyo and Paris 13 of the fastest 20 times ever swum in the event.
(Six belonging to her main rival Regan Smith from the USA and one to 2012 Olympic champion Missy Franklin, also from the USA.)
“I’ve had a long break, and it’s been quite hard to get back in,” said McKeown, who has certainly fired a shot across her rivals bow.
“I have only just completed my first two full weeks of training…nine sessions….and it’s been good to see what I can do off the back of that…I know I’ve got plenty more to give…!
“It was really good to get back out there for my first long course race after Paris…I was pretty nervous, with a new coach (Mel Marshall) and it’s sometimes hard with new beginnings and new starts.
“But it’s a good stepping stone towards a new four-year prep (to LA in 2028).
“And it (the race) was harder than what I thought it would be; my legs are a little bit sore…but at the end of the day to finish with a pretty solid time. There’ not much more I can ask for.”
McKeown wasted no time, getting back into the swing of things, powering to a full body length lead after the first 25 metres and winning the title by half the length of the pool.
The girl from Griffith University was out in 29.36 (just 0.02 outside her world record split from 2023 before touching at the 100m mark in 1:01.14 and the 150m turn in 1:33.15 before punching out a trade-mark McKeown final 50m spit of 31.42 – just a fraction outside her world record final 50m split of 31.30.
Other winners on the opening night included:
- Melbourne Vicentre’s Tara Kinder who continued her outstanding form from her home State Victorian Championships (where she won for gold medals in the 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, 400m freestyle and 400IM) tonight completing the Victorian-NSW 400IM double in an eye-catching personal best of 4:42.59 and adding the 100m breaststroke in another personal best time of 1:07.42 to kick-start her three-day meet in fine form – show-casing what’s to come at next month’s Australian Open.
- World champion Paris Olympian Sam Williamson (Melbourne Vicentre) who dominated in his 50m breaststroke forte in a standout 26.82 from Lucas Matzerath (Germany) 27.70 and Nash Wilkes(Griffith University) 27.92. Matzerath later scoring an impressive win in the 200m breaststroke in 2:13.42.
- Sydney University’s Paris 4x100m relay silver medallist Will Yang, was a clear winner in the men’s 100m freestyle 48.93, from fellow New South Welshman Marcus Da Silva (Cranbrook Aquatics, NSW) 49.48 and three-time Olympic medallist Matt Temple (Marion, SA) 49.73.
- And USC Spartans Paris medley relay silver medallist Alex Perkins who flew over the 50m butterfly to win in 25.72 from Sweden’s Louise Hansson (26.16) and Queensland teenager
- Brittany Castelluzzo
- (St Andrews, QLD) 26.54 before backing up for silver behind (Tea Tree Gully, SA) 54.68 to Perkins 54.86, with Jaimie de Lutiis (Wests Illawarra Aquatic, NSW) third in 55.10.
