Commonwealth Games: Emma McKeon Leads Another Aussie Sweep in 50 Free

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr/Swimming Australia

Commonwealth Games: Emma McKeon Leads Another Aussie Sweep in 50 Free

They did it in the 200 freestyle. They made a mockery of the 400 free relay. So what exactly was going to stand in the way of the Australian female sprint dominance in the 50 freestyle Sunday at the Commonwealth Games?

Precisely nothing.

Emma McKeon led a 1-2-3 Aussie sweep of the medals, her time of 23.99 the second-fastest in the world this year.

McKeon’s win gives her 11 all-time gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. That breaks a three-way tie with Ian Thorpe, Susie O’Neill and Leisel Jones as the most decorated Australian ever at the Commonwealth Games. It’s her 17th overall piece of CG hardware.

McKeon, the reigning Olympic champion, skipped the World Championships this summer to ready for the Commonwealth Games. Her time of 23.99 was just .01 behind the time used by Sarah Sjostrom to capture the world title.

Second was Meg Harris, the bronze medalist in Budapest, in 24.32, to cap a decorated summer for her. Shanya Jack wrapped up bronze in 24.36. There was nearly a half second back to the first non-Australian, with Emma Chelius taking fourth in 24.78 for that distinction on behalf of South Africa. England landed fifth and sixth, thanks to Anna Hopkin and Isabella Hindley, respectively.

The Australians have utterly dominated the women’s side of the Commonwealth Games. Ariarne Titmus led a podium sweep in the 200 free. The Australian 400 free relay won Saturday’s final by nearly six seconds.

McKeon was third quickest in semifinals, behind Jack and Harris. But that trio reversed order in the final. She had gone 23.81 to win gold in Tokyo, one of her seven medals at that Games. It’s the first time she’s won this event at a Commonwealth Games – she won the 200 free in 2014 and 100 fly in 2018.

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