Brooke’s Look: 2010 Australian Age Swimming Championships, Emma McKeon

By Olympian Brooke Hanson

SYDNEY, Australia, April 15. THE names McKeon and Woodhouse are household in Australian swimming so it came as no real surprise to see Emma McKeon become a regular visitor to the winner's dais at the recent National Age Championships in Sydney.

Emma, at just 15, won no less than four gold and two silver medals to raise more than a few eyebrows amongst swimming's hierarchy.

Father Ron is a celebrated Olympian who swam in Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles in 1984. He also won back-to-back gold medals at the 1978 and 1982 Commonwealth Games in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay.

He is now Emma's coach at the Wests Illawarra Aquatic Club in Wollongong, just an hour's drive south of Sydney on the picturesque NSW South Coast.

The Illawarra has a wonderful swimming history, producing 1972 Olympic swimmers, gold medallists, the late Bev Whitfield and the amazingly talented Brad Cooper as well as the legendary Robbie Nay (the late father of 2008 Olympian Meagen).

Emma's mum Susie, herself an outstanding international butterflyer, was a team mate of husband-to-be Ron at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane and she sat in the grandstand cheering Emma on.

Susie's dad Tony was also on pool deck where he has acted as an Australian selector and records officer for as long as I can remember – keeping a close and proud eye on the impressive feats of his grand-daughter.

While Emma's uncle Rob Woodhouse – himself a famous name in swimming down under (winning a bronze medal in the 400m IM at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics) also kept watch on his niece's results via the internet from London where he is working in his sports management business.

"Woodie" as all in swimming know him, became an intricate part of the swimming business world in and around the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games – managing the likes of Susie O'Neill and Jodie Henry and looking after the legendary Mark Spitz.

Emma, who was a finalist in the 50m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pac Trials in March, dominated her 15 years age group freestyle events, staging some wonderful battles with fellow rising star Brittany Elmslie.

Her winning 50m freestyle time of 25.19 ranks her 10th in the world after the first four and half months of 2010.

Emma also added the 100m freestyle in a slick 55.40; the 200m in 2:00.21 and the 400m in 4:17.68 while she was also a close-up second in the 100m butterfly and 200m backstroke.

Maybe uncle Rob will be keeping more than just a casual eye on Emma – who many good judges believe could well be in the spotlight for a place on the 2012 London Olympics – continuing that wonderful family tradition.

While continuing in swimming's bloodlines, we should also keep an eye on 14-year-old freestyle sprinter Cade Fasala, who has already turned some heads in recent years with some eye-catching 50m times.

Cade of course is the 14-year-old son of one of Australia's premier sprinters Greg Fasala and Australian and New Zealand international breaststroker Rickie Binning.

Both Greg and Rickie were team mates of Ron McKeon and Susie Woodhouse on the 1982 Commonwealth Games team which also included Cade's coach Michael Bohl.

There must have been something definitely in the water that year in Brisbane.

There are no doubt some exciting times ahead for Australia' next group of age group swimmers if the results at the six-day meet are anything to go by.

I'm sure Australia's National Head Coach Leigh Nugent has some exciting plans for the next group of youngsters and if Vince Raleigh gets the nod as our next National Youth Coach then I'm sure we'll see some proof in the pudding.

I should also make mention of several other names to really keep tabs on as we move towards the next couple of years on the international swimming scene.

Names like Mitch Larkin, Jayden Hadler and Yolane Kukla are just three names to watch out for – and I haven't included established internationals like Emily Seebohm and Cate Campbell who both contested this year's Age Championships – Seebohm continuing to impress as our next 100m freestyle hope (her 54.70 currently ranks her 5th in the world).

Larkin, who has been recovering from glandular, just missed the Australian Commonwealth Games team at the Trials but showed why he along with Thomas Fraser-Holmes and Hadler could help answer Nugent's 40IM woes with a stunning 4:20.48 at the Age Championships.

He is a real fighter this kid who certainly impressed Nugent at last year's Youth Olympics.

You had to feel for the youngster, who is also in the magical coaching hands of Michael Bohl. He also added an Australian record in the 200m backstroke of 2:01.00 and fought out a thrilling 200IM with arch rival Hadler, who pipped Larkin, 2:02.17 to 2:02.40.

Hadler's brilliant 52.99 to win the 100m butterfly was a 16 years Australian record and ranked him 14th on this year's World Rankings.

It was one of six gold medals for the Stephan Widmer coached swimmer who will make his major international debut at this year's Pan Pacs and Commonwealth Games.

He also notched wins in the 50m (23.44), 100m (51.18) and 200m freestyle (1:50.36) and the 200m butterfly (1:58.46) in a superb all round performance by the once budding young Queensland footballer.

He looks the goods in the 200 fly and the 400IM and will break a few hearts along the way also.

And while we heralded Yolane Kukla's rising career during the Trials she chimed back in with some amazing times in her haul of four gold and one silver at the Age meet.

She stopped the clock at 25.14 to win the 50m freestyle (supporting her 25.08 – fifth in the world at Trials); her 55.10 (supporting her official 55.06 at Trials and her unofficial sub 55 swim which saw her disqualified in the 100m final at Trials); her 2:01.34 in the 200m freestyle and her personal best 58.67 in the 100m butterfly (which ranks her 12th in the world and the sixth fastest Australian in 2010).

Throw in other names like James Roberts and James Magnussen and Bonnie McDonald and Australian Swim Team is in good hands and we can't wait to see how these youngsters take the next step.

Knowing Leigh Nugent he will make sure that Australia sees the next generation of young Dolphins make a splash come 2012.

Emma McKeon (right) with Brittany Elmslie (left).

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