It promises to be another busy evening for the Australian swim team on Day 3, with several quick times in the morning session setting up a late night at the pool.
It promises to be another busy evening for the Australian swim team on Day 3, with several quick times in the morning session setting up a late night at the pool.
After a frantic night on Monday with two gold medals and one silver, the team will be looking to replicate that with several more chances to stand on the podium or advance to finals.
To will be swimming for gold in the final of the 100m butterfly having qualified fifth fastest last night. To will be looking to add a gold medal to his collection of two silvers.
He will be joined by Emma McKeon who will swim her 100m final tonight as the fastest qualifier. McKeon had the chance to make it two golds in two days after her 4 x 100m medley relay team won last night.
In the last event of the night, the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay team will contest the final having qualified fastest this morning. To, Max Ackermann, Nicholas Schafer and Justin James will make up the team.
Zoe Johnson will swim in the semi finals for the 50m butterfly having qualified 11th fastest in her heat. Johnson’s time of 28.40 seconds was 1.15 seconds behind the fastest qualifier Elena di Liddo of Italy.
As the second fastest qualifier, Emily Selig will also contest the 100m breast stroke semi final this evening. Selig dominated her own heat with a time of 1.10.57.
Coach Ron McKeon was thrilled for Selig, who was not one of the favourites going into the swim.
“It was a fantastic swim from Emily coming from lane seven,” McKeon said.
“She really controlled the race and to qualify second fastest is a fantastic effort.”
A blistering start to the morning has thrown To back into the limelight. To qualified second fastest for the blue-ribbon 50m freestyle event with a time of 22.94 seconds – one of just two swimmers to break the 23 second mark.
He will be looking to swim quicker tonight having gone faster in qualifying for the Games.
McKeon was also pleased with To’s effort.
“Kenneth just sprung out and swam a great heat in the 50m free,” he said.
“He was probably a little bit disappointed last night [after silver in the 200IM] so it has given him something extra to work hard for.”
It was a slow start to the day for dual Youth Olympic Games medallist Madi Wilson who missed out on qualifying for the semi finals in the 200m backstroke. Wilson was off the pace from the start in her heat.
Elliot Woods
AOC
