Kaylee McKeown has qualified second-fastest for the 100m Backstroke final as she sets out to defend the Olympic title she won in emotional scenes in Tokyo three years ago.
After watching her fellow Dolphins deliver some heroics in the opening days of competition at Paris La Défense Arena, Kaylee was straight into top gear, powering away at the end of her semifinal to stop the clock at 57.99s and set up a clash with top seed and world record holder Regan Smith from the USA.
Iona Anderson, the 18-year-old from WA, was fourth fastest and ensured a twin Australian presence in the final. She finished third in the same semi with a time of 58.63s and will be on the hunt for her first Olympic medal in one of the must-watch races of the week.
Earlier in the night, Tasmania’s Max Giuliani declared he would be back bigger and better in Los Angeles in 2028 after finishing seventh in a nail biting 200m Freestyle final, won by Romania’s David Popovici (1:44.72).
Max left everything in the pool to record a 1:45.57 - less than a second off the winner in a bunched field that had chances right across the pool until the final few strokes.
It was Max’s Olympic debut and the first time he had ever had to swim heats, semis and a final in succession. He said the entire meet had been a welcome learning curve and the best was yet to come.
“I’m a bit disappointed but it’s my first one so I can’t complain. It was pretty painful the entire time, I did my best and can’t ask for much more,” Max said.
“I went in there to see what I could do. I’ll be in LA bigger and stronger and in my prime, even next year. I’ve learned a lot out of this meet and I’m going to apply it all in my training. Only up from here.”
Ella Ramsay opened the night for the Dolphins in the final of the 400m IM, finishing fifth (4:38.01) behind Summer McIntosh from Canada (4:27.71), who dominated the race to collect her first Olympic gold medal.
Phil Lutton
