United States Excellence in Backstroke Events on Display During 2025 Campaign
The backstroke events have always been a strength of the United States. There was a time (1996-2016) when American men captured six consecutive Olympic gold medals in both the 100-meter backstroke and 200 back. During that span, there were five gold-silver sweeps. As for the U.S. women, they have won 11 of the 24 Olympic crowns in the 100 backstroke, including a repeat by Natalie Coughlin in 2004 and 2008.
But what about the present-day landscape of the women’s events? At the 2025 World Championships, Team USA maximized its medal count in the backstroke events by securing six podium positions. Katharine Berkoff and Regan Smith won gold and silver in the 50 back, while Smith and Berkoff were the silver and bronze medalists in the 100 distance. In the 200 backstroke, Smith and Claire Curzan earned silver and bronze.
Emerging from a United States qualifying event for international competition guarantees female backstrokers favorite status for the podium. After all, the athletes must navigate a gauntlet of top-10 global performers, and anything less than peak form in domestic competition opens the door for a rival.
Of the 30 top-10 times available between the 50 backstroke, 100 backstroke and 200 back for the 2025 campaign, 17 of the positions are occupied by American standouts. As the year comes to a close, here is a look at the dominance of the American women in the various backstroke events.
Note: Below are the top-10 backstroke rankings for 2025, with American swimmers in bold.
50 Backstroke
1. Katharine Berkoff – 26.97
2. Kaylee McKeown – 27.06
3. Kylie Masse – 27.13
4. Lauren Cox – 27.15
5. Regan Smith – 27.20
6. Claire Curzan – 27.26
7. Wan Letian – 27.30
8. Leah Shackley – 27.31
9. Analia Pigree – 27.36
10. Mollie O’Calaghan – 27.39
100 Backstroke
1. Kaylee McKeown – 57.16
2. Regan Smith – 57.35
3. Katharine Berkoff – 58.13
4. Kylie Masse – 58.18
5. Claire Curzan – 58.60
5. Leah Shackley – 58.60
7. Kennedy Noble – 58.78
8. Phoebe Bacon – 58.80
9. Carmen Weiler Sastre – 58.83
10. Mollie O’Callaghan – 58.85
200 Backstroke
1. Kaylee McKeown – 2:03.33
2. Regan Smith – 2:04.29
3. Claire Curzan – 2:05.09
4. Leah Shackley – 2:05.99
5. Phoebe Bacon – 2:06.79
6. Summer McIntosh – 2:08.82
7. Kennedy Noble – 2:06.97
8. Audrey Derivaux – 2:06.99
9. Charlotte Crush – 2:07.05
10. Peng Xuwei – 2:07.22