"I don't wanna sell myself short" – Regan Smith places herself alongside Summer McIntosh and Kaylee McKeown as generational talent

American swimmer Regan Smith drew comparisons to Summer McIntosh and Kaylee McKeown after their successful campaigns at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Both Smith and McKeown clinched five medals each at the event while 18-year-old McIntosh clinched four medals including three gold at her debut quadrennial event.

Notably, both McIntosh and McKeown also defeated Smith during this event. While McIntosh got the better of her in the 200m butterfly, Mckeown defeated Smith in the 100m and 200m backstroke events. A few months after this tough competition among the three, Smith termed herself as a "generational talent" along with McIntosh and McKeown.

She also mentioned that after her impressive campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she has stopped looking up to herself as a minor walkover and added that she is very content with the performances she produced during the Olympics. She said (via Unfiltered Waters Podcast at 43:23):

"So Kaylee and Summer are generational talents and I'm gonna be proud of myself for a moment. I would consider myself one as well, you know? I don't wanna sell myself short anymore and just look at myself as a minor medal winner."

She further added:

"The performances that I put up were very very good and so I am just like I am past that point in my career where I wanna be better and feel not complacent with what I have done. I don't think there's any wrong with feeling proud of myself and kind of complacent to an extent."

Regan Smith also registered several impressive performances at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup. She clinched nine gold and two silver medals across the China, Korea, and Singapore legs of this competition. She will next feature at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest scheduled to start on Dec 10.

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Regan Smith graced the Golden Goggles Award 2024 in a floral dress

Smith after breaking the world record during the second day of the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming championships- Singapore leg (Image via: Getty Images)

Regan Smith was in attendance at the 2024 Golden Goggles award ceremony held in Indianapolis. The event took place on November 23 (Sunday) where numerous other American swimmers such as Katie Ledecky, Bobby Finke, and Torri Huske were present.

Smith took to her Instagram handle to share a few glimpses of her time at the event. In the post, Smith could be seen wearing a golden floral dress and carrying a pink bag. She wrote in the caption:

"I love this event every year. Thank you @usaswimming @swim_foundation"

Regan Smith was among the quartet that clinched the "Relay Performance of the Year award" during the event for their performance in the 4x100m medley Paris Olympic finals. Other members of the quartet include Huske, Gretchen Walsh, and Lily King.