It will be another big night in the pool for Australia with four swimmers contesting individual finals plus the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay.

Our first shot at a medal will be in the women’s 200m butterfly when top qualifier Madeline Groves and teammate Brianna Throssell take to the water.

Making their Olympic Games debuts, Groves qualified fastest and Throssell seventh for tonight’s final after both produced outstanding semi-final swims.

Throssell, 20, finished third in her semi with a time of 2:07.19 while 21 year-old Groves was first in the following semi with a time of 2:05.66, taking the top ranking into the final.

If Groves can stick to her race plan she will be in the mix for a medal tonight, while Throssell, who finished fourth at the World Champion final in 2015, could also be in with a shot at a place on the podium.

All eyes will then be on the men’s 100m freestyle in what’s guaranteed to be an exciting final. Kyle Chalmers and Cameron McEvoy, who qualified as the first and third fastest respectively, will be in a tussle for the title tonight.

Chalmers, 18, has proven he’s in form, swimming the semi-final with another personal best and setting a World Junior Record of 47.88.

World Championship silver medallist McEvoy also swam an impressive semi with a time of 47.93 seconds. McEvoy, who has a personal best time of 47.04, was happy with his performance but will be looking to step it up a gear tonight.  When he takes to the blocks tonight it will be his first individual Olympic final.

The last event of the night will be the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay.  Australia, made up of Leah Neale, Bronte Barratt, Tamsin Cook and Jessica Ashwood, finished first in their heat. The team will be confirmed at the commencement of the session.

Sophie Onikul

olympics.com.au