There was a special moment that unfolded at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre this week when Kai Taylor from St Peters Western won the 16-years 100m freestyle at the Queensland State Championships.
High in the grandstands at the Chandler pool, purpose built for the 1982 Commonwealth Games, sat Kai’s mum and dad and his grandparents – a common site at most major swim meets around the country.
Family video all set and cheer squad all primed as the youngster took to the blocks with “Team Taylor” nervous and excited at the same time.
They cheer on young Kai, who certainly has the looks of his mum, as he takes off like a scalded cat, swimming beautifully.
Kai Taylor, Queensland State 16 years Champion, 100m freestyle. Photo Courtesy: Phoenix Wilson (Medal Shots)
Swimming out of lane four Kai blasted off the blocks down the first 50m in 24.56 and bounds off the turn with a powerful six-beat kick, coming home in 26.43 for an impressive personal best time of 50.99 – crowned the Queensland State Champion – something his mum had achieved so many times herself.
Kai returned the next night for the 400m freestyle –finishing sixth in 4:05.27 behind some very talented fellow teens in Thomas Hauck (ALL Saints), 3:54.62 Samuel Short (Albany Creek) 3:56.20 and SPW teammate Seungbeen Cho 3:59.20 and then staged a brilliant one-lap screamer with Cotton Tree’s Ethan Murrihy-Wildin out-touching Kai at the finish 23.60 to 23.61 in a thrilling finish.
Watching Kai this week certainly brought all the memories flooding back with a classic case of this apple not falling far from a very talented family tree – Kai Taylor is the son of one of Queensland and Australia’s legends of the pool, Hayley Lewis and her former swimming husband Greg Taylor, who both swam under the Master Coach Joe King at the Leander Swim Club.
Golden girl of the Games Hayley Lewis with two fellow Olympians and swimming greats Julie McDonald (left) and Janelle Elford. Photo Courtesy: News Ltd.
Chandler was where Hayley herself had spent so many years thrilling crowds through the 1990s after swimming her way into the annals of swimming in Australia – winning five gold medals at the ’90 Commonwealth Games in Auckland at just 15 and the Fina World Title in the 200m freestyle at the Perth World Championships in ’91 at 16.
Her stellar career took off with Hayley becoming one of the darlings of Australian swimming.
Three Olympics followed in ’92, ’96 and 2000 – winning silver and bronze in the 800 and 400m freestyle respectively – amassing a total of six World Championship medals; 11 Commonwealth Games medals – seven of them gold and eight Pan Pac medals – two of them gold.
And as proud as punch and typically understated from Hayley, who posted this on Facebook: “Exciting night for Kai! New Queensland champion in the 100free in a PB 50.99!”
Exciting times for Kai and the Taylor-Lewis family…and me thinks there could be more pbs, more videos and more photos to follow for this latest little Queensland champion.
Exciting alright..will be watching him with interest ..I used to swim with Loraine Crapp in the 50’s and we trained with Frank Guthrie, needless to say I was always the bridesmaid . Good luck Kai . Barbara