After setting a new Australian and Commonwealth record on Friday, Tokyo 2020 hopeful, Kaylee McKeown, has claimed a second and third at the Sydney Open over the weekend at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
Queensland native, McKeown, looks primed for a strong Olympic trials campaign after the teenager recorded three record-breaking backstroke times, first in the 200m on Friday, before claiming the 100m and 50m titles over the weekend.
McKeown took top honours in the 100m backstroke event on Saturday in a time of 57.63, the second-fastest swim of all time, narrowly missing American Regan Smith’s world record.
The Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Champion and four-time Youth Olympic medallist was jubilant when discussing the achievement.
"Sydney was definitely a surprise in itself! Super stoked to walk away with three Australian and Commonwealth records," she said.
The effort followed from McKeown’s success in the 200m backstroke the previous day, where the 19-year-old registered a new Australian and Commonwealth record of 2:04.31, the only swimmer globally to race under 2:05 this season, and the fourth quickest time in history.
On Sunday, McKeown delivered a time of 27.16 - 0.18 seconds outside the world record - in the 50m backstroke, also a new Australian and Commonwealth record.
A flurry of outstanding performances will assuredly prime McKeown for an impressive Australian Swim Trials campaign, which are set to begin in Adelaide next month, as she continues her campaign for an Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.
Daniel Lo Surdo
