Australian Trials:<\/strong> Kai Taylor Steals 200m Freestyle From Lane Eight, Just Like Mum Hayley Lewis 32 Years Ago<\/strong><\/p>\n

History certainly does have a habit of repeating itself so no wonder Kai Taylor<\/strong>\u2019s fairytale victory from lane eight in tonight\u2019s 200m freestyle final at the Australian Trials had his mother, the legendary Hayley Lewis<\/strong> in tears after cheering him on wildly from the grandstand.<\/p>\n

Nineteen-year-old Taylor (St Peters Western, QLD) received a late call up to swim in lane eight after fastest qualifier, Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers<\/strong> withdrew from the final and sent him a text telling him he was in the final.<\/p>\n

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KAI’S THE LIMIT: Kai Taylor’s mum, former world \u00a0champion Hayley Lewis and father Greg Taylor celebrate for lane eight. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).<\/p><\/div>\n
Taylor, the Australian champion a month ago, had missed the top eight cut by 0.11 \u2013 ruining any chance he had of making his first World Championship team and Australia\u2019s 4x200m freestyle relay \u2013 a likely medal hope.<\/p>\n
But just like his mother Hayley did as a 16-year-old at the 1991 World Championships in Perth, Kai Taylor took a leaf out of his famous mum\u2019s family album, kept his cool, put his head down and won from lane eight.<\/p>\n
Lewis had finished third in the 200m freestyle in the December 1990 World Trials in Brisbane \u2013 behind fellow Queenslander Julie McDonald<\/strong> and WA\u2019s Nicole Redford<\/strong> \u2013 missing an individual swim for the 1991 January Worlds in Perth.<\/p>\n
And 32 years ago it was noted distance swimmer McDonald, the Olympic bronze medallist over 800m from Seoul in 1988, \u00a0who herself withdrew from the official event list before the Championships.<\/p>\n
Leaving Lewis and Redford to represent Australia in the 200m freestyle \u00a0in Perth with McDonald presenting her fellow Queenslander with a gold medal opportunity.<\/p>\n
But when Lewis, who had already won silver in the 400 IM, qualified in lane eight for the final she told master coach Joe King <\/strong>she wanted to withdraw from the final, to concentrate on the 400m freestyle.<\/p>\n
Joe agreed but after sleeping on it and when told by team mates and likely by head coach Don Talbot<\/strong> that she could win Australia\u2019s first gold medal, Lewis decided to swim \u00a0\u2013 and like son Kai tonight \u2013 stole Australia\u2019s first gold medal of the pool as what Talbot always called \u201can outside smoker.\u201d<\/p>\n
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And Dad was a pretty great swimmer also! https:\/\/t.co\/kAzS5jmQK1<\/a><\/p>\n
— IamMeagenNay OLY (@meagen_nay) June 14, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n