O’Callaghan Tops Nervy 100 Free Final As McKeon Paris Defence Falls & Campbell Makes 4th Games
Emma McKeon will not defend the Olympic 100m freestyle crown nor will the two fastest Australians of the hour from the world’s dominant sorority of 100m freestyle speed represent the Dolphins at the Paris Olympics after World champion Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack* topped a nervy Trials final in 52.33 and 52.72.
Third home was Meg Harris, on 52.51 in heats but 52.97 in the final. At 30, Bronte Campbell, 52.95 in heats nine years after the 50-100m sprint double at 2015 World titles, was next, on 53.10, then Olivia Wunsch, 18, on 53.17, McKeon, also 30, in line for a consideration place for the 4x100m, relay in sixth on 53.33.
Bronte, who paid tribute to her sister Cate after heats that left the former Australia No1 0.01sec shy of the final and a crack at becoming the first Australian swimmer to make five Olympics, is off to her fourth Games.
No question about the glowing prospects for Australian relay glory once more, the top four times summing up to a faster quartet than any other nation has on its books right now, regardless of whether powder was kept dry (likely) or not this day.
That said, what would have been a line-up of 52s if you could overlay current and immediate past generations of the best Australians highlighted the pressure in a cooker that’s produced the world’s three-star Michelin quality sprint force.
O’Callaghan Vs The Rest – The flow:
25.61 52.33 (26.72) O’Callaghan
25.44 52.72 (27.28) Jack
25.46 52.97 (27.51) Harris
25.43 53.10 (27.67) B Campbell
25.92 53.17 (27.25) Wunsch
25.53 53.33 (27.80) McKeon
26.11 53.61 (27.50) Brianna Throssell
26.11 54.05 (27.94) Milla Jansen
O’Callaghan, who last year became the first woman to claim the 100-200m free double at World titles since the global showcase got underway in 1973, was the Paris gold contender in the field. That all the more so because that 52.3 follows the dam of emotion that burst when she lost the 200m free world record even as she swam inside it in a mighty battle that ended 1:52.23 to 1:52.48 in favour of Ariarne Titmus.
O’Callaghan emerged from the fray to say:
“It’s a very tough race to be in. 100 free has so much depth in it, and all these girls I respect so much and they’re so inspirational … a little bit disappointed at the time, but that’s something I can work on for Paris.”
Mollie O’Callaghan – Photo: O’Callaghan hugs coach Dean Boxall, by Delly Carr, courtesy of Swimming Australia
McKeon, meanwhile, is on the team for her fourth Games after qualifying in the 100m butterfly on the first day of trials. Winner of a record seven medals in Paris, her story is not done yet.
Brisbane Results in full / Event Page
In contrast to previous trials, the 100m fight did not move the all-time top 10 performers list not the all-time top 20 performances list.
From coach Dean Boxall‘s St Peters Western stable Shayna Jack took the second slot to make her Olympic debut after her first shot at achieving selection was blown away by a positive test and the process that followed: