Teenager Kaylee McKeown blew the top of the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre on night two of the Australian Swimming Trials when she claimed the World Record in the Women’s 100m Backstroke.
McKeown went out flying in 28.10 and set the pool alight touching in 57.45 ahead of Emily Seebohm (58.59), who booked herself a spot at her fourth Olympics – equalling legend, Leisel Jones’ record.
An emotional McKeown said it was a dream come true and thanked her coach Chris Mooney.
“We’ve been revving up the whole year so to finally get myself onto that Olympic team is a dream come true, it really is,” she said.
“He did say something to me before warm up, he said he believed in me. We knew it was go time. He knew something special was about to happen.”
World Champion Ariarne Titmus went out fast in the Women’s 400m Freestyle – setting World Record pace for much of the race. Breaking her own Commonwealth Record, Titmus powered home in 3:56.90. Joining her on the team will be Rio Olympian Tamsin Cook (4:04.10) who came home comfortably under the time required of 4:07.10.
Titmus said she surprised herself with the record-breaking swim.
“I honestly didn’t think I could go that fast. The way I’ve been training, I would have been happy to get to my PB and hope I could squeeze a little bit more out in Tokyo,” she said.
“It goes to show the adrenalin, the pressure and what it brings.”
The field was stacked in the Men’s 200m Freestyle final with two spots up for grabs plus relay positions. In a race that saw four swimmers swim under the qualifying time – hometown favourite Kyle Chalmers grabbed the first spot powering home in 1:45.48 with Elijah Winnington claiming the second spot in 1:45.55.
Looking to go under 1:06.97, Chelsea Hodges (Southport Olympic) looks set to book a seat on the plane to Tokyo after she took the top spot in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke. First to the wall in 1:05.99, she was joined by Dolphin leader Jess Hansen (Cruiz Swim) who claimed the second spot in 1:06.69.
Mitch Larkin was seeking a third Olympic appearance when he took to the water in Men’s 100m Backstroke. Hitting the mark required of 53.40 right on the money – Larkin looks to have booked that spot to his third Games.
Swimming Australia
