TAKING inspiration from legendary swimmer Susie O’Neill, Wollongong’s Emma McKeon has declared she is ready for the demands of a packed schedule at this year’s world championships.
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McKeon touched the wall in 1:55.68, to win her fourth consecutive Australian 200m freestyle title and will compete in six events in Hungary in July.
After taking out Olympics bronze in the 200m freestyle final in Rio last year, McKeon set a blistering early pace in Brisbane on Tuesday night.
At one point under world record pace McKeon clocked 26.31 for the first 50m then 55.66 at the 100m.
Her time is the second fastest of the year, only four one-hundredths outside Sweden’s Michelle Coleman mark last week.
In Rio, McKeon came from lane seven to finish third in 1:54.9, behind American Katie Ledecky and Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom.
Italian Federica Pellegrini, who has the third fastest time so far this year (1:55.94), was fourth in Rio.
However, McKeon has a number of medal targets, after also qualifying in the 100m freestyle, the 100m butterfly and all three of Australia’s relays – the 4x100, 4x200m freestyle and the 4x100m medley. “I love a busy meet and this time will even be busier than Rio,” McKeon said.
“To have an individual swim in the 100m freestyle as well as the 200m and the 100m fly is exciting as well as the relays.
“I’m not worried about it at all, I grew up watching all the girls (like Susie O’Neill) swim multiple events.”
O’Neill won eight Olympic medals in butterfly and freestyle.
Last year, McKeon claimed four Olympic medals, a gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay, in world record time, as well as silver in the 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley relay.
Her most outstanding swim though, came in the 200m freestyle to earn bronze.
McKeon also won six medals, including four gold, in a breakout performance at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, with Gold Coast on the radar next year.
Brother David also qualified for the world championships, with an impressive second in the 400m freestyle final this week.
Taking it up to Olympics champion Mack Horton, McKeon led for 250m.
However, Horton pulled away over the final three laps to finish in 3:44.18, ahead of McKeon in 3:46.90.
McKeon’s time is the sixth fastest this year.
Having competed in London in 2012 and Rio last year, it is the sixth time David has been part of the Australian squad. It will also be his third world championships.
Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
