Meg Harris Tabbed Flag-Bearer for Australia at Pan Pacs, Aims to Keep ‘Lifting the Standard’ of the Sprints
Meg Harris came to the Pan Pacific Championships to race.
She has been waiting for this sprint showdown with the U.S. women. Harris won the silver medal in the 50 free at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and is a four-time relay Olympic medalist.
“When we come into a meet with the Americans there is a lot of pressure because they are on form and swimming fast, but it is exciting,” Harris said. “I am excited to get out and race these freestyle girls. They have had an incredible year and hopefully, I get to be a part of (that success) this week.”
Harris was the flag bearer chosen by Australia and is looking forward to facing the world’s best.
Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh both went faster than Sarah Sjostrom‘s previous world record of 23.67 that stood for nearly nine years.
Then Douglass (23.59) and Walsh (23.55) bested it in a 10-day span in June. Their Virginia training partner Anna Moesch has been a 24.05, while China’s Quinfeng Yu has been at 24.02.
Harris has the sixth-fastest time in the world this year in the 50 free at 24.08, just six hundredths out of third.
Now they will all go head-to-head at the Pan Pacific Championships.
“The 50 free is anyone’s race. I would like to be in contention for that,” Harris said. “These girls have been lifting the standard of the freestyle, and it has been incredible to watch. Definitely excited to race them.”
Meanwhile, in the 100 free, Moesch bested the American record at 51.88, trailing just Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands, who just broke the world record with a 51.68 at Sette Colli two weeks ago.
Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan (52.33) and Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey (52.36) are not at Pan Pacs – leaving Harris at 52.63 to challenge Moesch, Walsh and company.
“Looking forward to those event,” Australian coach Rohan Taylor said. “Any time you have athletes that are in good form going up against the U.S., Canada, Japan, China, we have a big opportunity.”
