Regan Smith expresses her thoughts after clinching two titles at the World Aquatics short course Swimming Championships

At the ongoing World Aquatics Short Course Swimming Championships, Regan Smith has clinched two wins in the 100m backstroke and 200m butterfly events. The 2024 World Aquatics Short Course Swimming Championships are scheduled at Duna Arena in Budapest, Hungary. The event commenced on December 10 and will conclude on December 15, 2024.

Smith dominated the 100m backstroke event after clocking a time of 54.55 seconds, registering a new champiosnhips record, and bettering her semifinal time of 55.05 seconds. She achieved this feat by outpacing her fellow teammate Katherine Berkoff, who clocked 54.93 seconds. The American duo were followed by Canada's Ingrid Wilm, who posted 55.75 seconds.

Smith collected $10,000 for her victory in the individual event. In the 200m butterfly event, she followed Summer McIntosh to touch the finish line in second place. While McIntosh posted a remarkable time of 1:59.32 (WR), Smith listed 2:01.00.

Fresh off her two debut World Aquatics Short Course Swimming Championships victories, Smith took to social media to express her joy and wrote:

"First short course world championship medal 💞🥇grateful to be here."

"Diiirty double tonight," she added.

Further, Smith contributed to the team's efforts to bag a bronze medal in the 4x50m mixed medley relay event, alongside Berkoff, Michael Andrew, and Shaine Casas. The American squad followed the Neutral Athletes team and the Canadian squad, clocking a time of 1:36.20.

Regan Smith registered a world record in the 100m backstroke at the Short Course Swimming World Cup before bagging her first title at the World Short Course Swimming Championships in the same event

Regan Smith at the World Aquatics Short Course Swimming World Cup 2024 in Singapore. (Image Source: Getty)

At the 2024 Short Course Swimming World Cup stop 3 held in Singapore from October to November 2, 2024, Regan Smith posted a world record in the 100m backstroke.

She listed a notable time of 54.27 seconds, to register the new world record by surpassing Beata Nelson and Ingrid Wilm. She bettered her time of 54.41 seconds, yet another world record she listed during the Stop 2 of the World Cup series, held in Incheon, Republic of Korea.

At Stop 3 of the Short Course Swimming World Cup in Singapore, she also clocked a world record in the 200m backstroke event by marking a time of 1:58.83. At the ongoing World Aquatics Short Course Swimming Championships, she is yet to compete in the 50m and 200m backstroke events.