Canada's Kylie Masse breaks 100m backstroke world record

Rudi Schuller

Canada's Kylie Masse breaks 100m backstroke world record image

Canadian Kylie Masse is the fastest woman to have ever swum the women's 100 metre backstroke.

Masse set the world record at the final FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest on Tuesday, coming from behind to swim a 58.10 time.

The 21-year-old qualified for the final by nearly setting the world record in Monday's semis. Masse was just 0.06 seconds shy of the previous mark, easily besting the rest of the field and setting a temporary Canadian record in the process.

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That blistering performance established Masse as the favourite in Tuesday's race, with American Kathleen Baker and Australian Emily Seebohm as her main challengers. Seebohm set the pace in the opening 50 metres, but Masse chased the Aussie down and passed her in the closing stretch.

A native of LaSalle, Ontario, Masse announced herself to the world when she won bronze in the 100 metre backstroke at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Rudi Schuller