Masse's bid for 3rd straight world 100m backstroke title spoiled by Regan Smith

Kylie Masse of LaSalle, Ont., touched the wall second in 58.40 seconds in an unsuccessful bid for a third straight world title in the women's 100-metre backstroke on Monday at the FINA world aquatics championships in Budapest, Hungary.

American Regan Smith won in 58.22 after posting fastest qualifying time in 57.65. At last summer's Olympics, Masse won silver ahead of Smith, who took bronze.

Claire Curzan, Smith's teammate, was third on Monday in 58.67.

Masse, 26, had a strong start to the race, posting the fastest reaction time of 0.53 to Smith's 0.55.

The American swimmer led Masse by 6-100ths of a second through 50 metres and held on for the victory.

Masse, the reigning Olympic silver medallist, clocked the second-fastest time in Sunday's preliminaries and semifinals, winning her heat in 58.89 in the morning and 58.57 in the evening.

WATCH | Masse has had 'killer instinct' in pool since childhood:

Coverage continues Monday afternoon, with races live streamed at CBC Sports.ca, CBC Sports App and CBC Gem.