{"id":482848,"date":"2021-07-25T06:32:56","date_gmt":"2021-07-25T13:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=482848"},"modified":"2021-07-25T08:28:05","modified_gmt":"2021-07-25T15:28:05","slug":"australian-round-up-nervous-kaylee-mckeown-sets-new-olympic-record-and-finds-solace-in-previous-owner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/australian-round-up-nervous-kaylee-mckeown-sets-new-olympic-record-and-finds-solace-in-previous-owner\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Round-Up: Nervous Kaylee McKeown Sets New Olympic Record And Finds Solace In Previous Owner"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australian Round-Up: Nervous Kaylee McKeown Sets New Olympic Record And Finds Solace In Previous Owner<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kaylee McKeown has shrugged off the nerves and delivered a record breaking start to her Tokyo campaign \u2013 relying on the former Olympic record holder and team mate Emily Seebohm<\/strong> to guide her along the way.<\/p>\n

By the time McKeown and Seebohm hit the water in the last of six heats in the 100m backstroke, Seebohm\u2019s 2012 Games mark of 58.23 had bitten the dust \u2013 broken by Rio silver medallist Kyle Masse<\/strong> (CAN) in 58.17 (28.19; 29.98) showing good early speed.<\/p>\n

But that time didn\u2019t last long with former world record holder American Regan Smith<\/strong> lowering it again to 57.96 (28.36; 29.60).<\/p>\n

\"Jul

RECORD SETTERS: Emily Seebohm (left) and Kaylee McKeown, saying goodbye to the old record holder and hello to the new one. Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher — USA Today Sports.<\/p><\/div>\n

Then McKeown and Seebohm hit the water with world record holder McKeown thinking \u201canything you guys can do I can do better,\u201d lowering the record to 57.88<\/a> (28.24; 29.64), just 0.43 outside her newly created world mark of 57.45 (28.10; 29.35).<\/p>\n

Seebohm, the 2012 Olympic silver medallist and swimming at her fourth Games, qualified in fifth place in 58.86 (28.78; 30.08).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is certainly a really strong field and I was very nervous walking out and it was great to have Emily by my side walking out to try and calm down those nerves, make it though the semis and relax a bit more,\u201d said McKeown.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmily knows what\u2019s she\u2019s doing with that big smile on her face \u2013it\u2019s good to have her by my side and we\u2019re doing it for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s 100m backstroke saw Australia\u2019s three-Games veteran Mitch Larkin<\/strong> in 52.97 (25.89;27.08) and Games rookie Isaac Cooper<\/strong> in 53.73 (25.91; 27.82) qualify fourth and 13th<\/sup>, respectively.<\/p>\n

\"kyle

ANCHORMAN: Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers in a sizzling 46.63. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr\/Swimming Australia<\/p><\/div>\n

In the men\u2019s 4x100m freestyle relay, Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers<\/strong> put his hand up to \u201chave a hit out\u201d and delivered one if the fastest relay times ever \u2013 anchoring the team in a sizzling 46.63 (22.03) \u2013 a top five time of all time an d his fastest ever split.<\/p>\n

Three-time Olympian Cam McEvoy<\/strong> led off in 49.18 (23.40), followed by Zac Incerti<\/strong> 47.64 (22.52) and Alex Graham<\/strong> 48,44 (23.35) before Chalmers set his sights on US anchorman Zach Apple<\/strong>, who split 47.19 (22.20).<\/p>\n

The first heat saw the Italians (3:1029) clock the fastest qualifying time for the final, with the USA second through in 3:11.33, followed by the Australians in 3:11.89.<\/p>\n

Then comes France (3:12.35), Brazil (3:12.59), Hungary (3:12.73), Canada (3:12.00), Russian Olympic Committee (3:13.13), Great Britain (3:1317) and Serbia (3;13.71).<\/p>\n

\u201cI just needed a hit out really \u2013 it\u2019s the Olympic Games and I want to swim \u2013 to be there with the boys especially after watching (the team do so well this morning) especially these girls (in the 4x100m freestyle) I want my opportunity to race,\u201d said Chalmers.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I just kinda put myself in there and get us through to the final….I think my coach (Peter<\/strong> Bishop<\/strong>) might be a disappointed I probably went a little bit harder than I needed to go but we wanted to be in those middle lanes \u2013 qualifying in third is awesome, better than we thought we could do so tomorrow is going to be exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the men\u2019s 200m, Thomas Neill<\/strong>, who only received a late call up when Chalmers withdrew (after qualifying for the 4x200m freestyle) finds himself in a battle to now make the final, qualifying in eighth in 1:45.81 (25.02; 51;80; 1:18.95; \u2013 a fraction outside his personal bet but a pb could well see him push for a top eight berth in his first Games.\u00a0 Elijah Winnington<\/strong>, a disappointing seventh in the 400m earlier in the day, faded to finish in 22nd place in 1:46.99.<\/p>\n

While in the women\u2019s 100m breaststroke Australian champion Chelsea Hodges<\/strong> in 1:06.70 (30.86;35.84) qualified 12th<\/sup> in the semi-finals with Jessica Hansen\u2019s 1:07.50 (31.85; 35.65) leaving her in 20th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n