McKeown 2:06.63 Commonwealth 200IM Mark Confirms Dolphin A Flip For Paris Gold
Kaylee McKeown, queen of consistent world-class speed in and out of season, strikes again: in 2:06.63 over 200m medley at Australian Olympic Trials in Brisbane, the 22-year-old triple Olympic gold medalist of Tokyo2020ne took down the 2:06.99 Aussie mark she set at nationals last month to confirm herself as a solid flip for gold at the Paris Games.
Also on Day 1:
Titmus Rattles Her WR With 3:55.44 Storm On Opening Night At Olympic Trials
Additional reporting by Nicole Jeffery in Brisbane
The world record stands yet at 2:06.12 to 2016 Olympic champion Katinka Hosszu but the Commonwealth mark that had stood at 2:06.88 to Siobhan-Marie O’Connor since the Brit gave the Hungarian a scare in Rio for Olympic silver, is history.
Coached by Michael Bohl at Griffith University SC, McKeown was out in 27.58, got to half-way in 59.41 (31.83), the last turn in 1:36.28 (36.87) and polished it all off with a 30.35 home comer on freestyle.
Bohl also coached Stephanie Rice, who claimed the Olympic double on medley at the 2008 Games in Beijing and whose national records McKeown felled at nationals last month, the 400m a 4:28 that will not lead to a challenge in Paris (by choice).
After her masterclass in medley McKeown said: “I think everyone kind of always puts the Olympics as this big thing. For me, I just learned that it’s a pool in a different city in a different town. So at the end of the day, it’s just me diving in and doing what I can do best. That’s why I have such a great coach (Michael Bohl), because he kind of handles the stress for me.”
Asked about her hectic schedule in Paris, where, assuming all else goes well this week, she will defend her 100 and 200m backstroke titles, take on the 200m medley and is in line for at least two relays if not three, McKeown replied:
“Look, I’ve got to qualify for the other ones. I’ve only got one so far. But if all goes to plan this week, I think the training that I’ve done and the coach that I have, I think we’re setting ourselves pretty nicely.”
Kaylee McKeown (Photo by Patrick B. Kraemer / MAGICPBK – ©)
Closest to McKeown’s maelstrom medley was Ella Ramsay, 19 and racing for Chandler, her 2:09.32 inside the 2:10.62 and good for a ticket to the Paris Olympics. Third place went to St Peters Western’s Jenna Forrester in 2:11.83.
McKeown: In The Swiftest 5 Ever As No 2 All-Time In Textile
2:06.12 – Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2015
2:06.15 – Ariarne Kukors (USA) 2009 (shiny)
2:06.63 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS) Brisbane, June 2024
2:06.88 – Siobhan O’Connor (GBR) 2016
2:06.89 – Summer McIntosh (CAN) 2023
McKeown – New Rankings Among the Biggest Hitters
27.30; 58.94; 1:35.64; 2:06.12 Katinka Hosszu, WR, World Title, Kazan 2015
27.23; 58.89; 1:35.72; 2:06.58 Katinka Hosszu Rio 2016 gold OR
27.58; 59.41; 1:36.28; 2:06.63 Kaylee McKeown Brisbane, June 2024
27.31; 59.61; 1:36.49; 2:06.88 Siobhan-Marie O’Connor Rio 2016 silver
26.80; 58.63; 1:37.26; 2:06.89 Summer McIntosh Toronto Trials 2023