Australian swimmers will contest five finals tonight, with Emily Selig flying home this morning to be the fastest qualifier for the 200m breaststroke and a real chance at winning a medal.

It is crunch time for the Australian team.

With the final session looming, every swimmer in green and gold will be squaring up to spend some quality time on the dais.

Selig finished her morning heat in a time of 2 minutes 30.36 seconds – 1.11 in front of second placed Japanese swimmer Maya Hamano (2.31.67) and almost five seconds before third placed Belgian Jollen Vermeylen (2.35.13).

“Emily swam very well this morning to be fastest qualifier” coach Ron McKeon said.

“She was controlled and looked very good. She’s gone through as the fastest qualifier and will swim well tonight.”

Selig’s final is the fifth swim of the evening session and starts at 6.58pm.

First in the pool tonight will be Emma McKeon for the 50m freestyle final at 6.32pm. McKeon has been strong all meet and will be keen to add another gold to her bounty of medals.

Also in the medal hunt for the evening session will be Kenneth To and Justin James in the 100m freestyle final with To moving through as the fastest qualifier. The 100m freestyle final will start at 6.54pm.

The next chance at medals comes through Nicholas Schafer in the 50m breaststroke. Schafer has qualified fastest and will be keen the make it three gold medals for the meet having taken the 100m breaststroke and the 4 x 100m medley relay. He also took a hard fought bronze in the 200m breaststroke.

Already the most decorated Aussie on the entire Youth Olympic team – Schafer will be hoping to improve his standings even further with another crack at gold.

The final event of the night is the mixed 4 x 100m medley relay. The team has had a shake up from this morning with Max Ackermann, Emily Selig, Kenneth To and Emma McKeon set to take Australia home.

The heat featured the remaining Australians – Schafer, Madi Wilson, Zoe Johnson and Justin James. Should they be successful all eight Australian’s will receive a medal for their efforts.

Elliot Woods
AOC