Kaylee McKeown is the undisputed queen of backstroke after setting yet another world record in the discipline.
The Aussie 22-year-old’s 50m backstroke effort at the World Cup in Budapest eclipsed the previous world record by 0.12s.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Kaylee McKeown sets new world record in 50m backstroke.
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She became just the second woman ever to swim sub-27, dethroning China’s Liu Xiang after a five year hold on the record with a blistering 26.86.
McKeown had threatened the record with her swim in Berlin recently, but went to a new level in Budapest on Saturday morning (AEDT), despite a slightly scratchy finish to the race.
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“She’ll probably say that wasn’t even the perfect finish — and it wasn’t,” the British commentator said after she touched the wall.
McKeown, who looked as shocked as anyone in the building after the swim, now holds world record in each of the 50, 100 and 200 metres backstroke, as well as the 200m backstroke short course world record.
The Aussie superstar becomes just the second swimmer to hold the three backstroke records at the same time after American Lenny Krayzelburg did it at the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships.
Kaylee McKeown was as shocked as anyone after her latest world record. Credit: World Aquatics
She’s also only the second ever woman to hold world records in every event of one stroke. South Africa’s Penny Heyns did it for breaststroke in the 1990s and 2000s.
It’s an ominous performance ahead of next year’s Paris Olympics, where she will be the red hot favourite to repeat the 100 and 200m gold double she did in Tokyo.
Asked after the race how she did it, McKeown said: “I don’t know.”
“It’s just a matter of coming and racing. I love racing and I love getting up and seeing what I can put myself through.
“A 50’s a 50; it doesn’t really matter what you do, you’ve just got to put yourself on the line.
“I love this pool. I do have a bit of a love-hate relationship with it, but obviously I love it tonight, especially after that race.
“It’s good to be here, it’s a good atmosphere, Hungarians always have the loudest crowd, so it’s really enjoyable.”
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