IRVINE, Calif. — Kathleen Baker broke the first world record of the U.S. Swimming Championships, winning the 100m backstroke in 58.00 seconds on Saturday night.
“I watched a lot of Shark Week, so I was channeling my inner shark,” Baker said on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. “Definitely unexpected.”
Baker, the Olympic and world silver medalist, took one tenth of a second off the mark Canadian Kylie Masse set at 2017 Worlds.
Baker beat Olivia Smoliga by .75 on Saturday, while 16-year-old Regan Smith was third in 58.