Such is Kaylee McKeown’s dominance in the women’s 100m backstroke that the Australian holds every single one of the top five times in history, and all but one of the top 10. The 22-year-old won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in the two-lap race; gold at last year’s world championships in Fukuoka; and gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. In the 100m, McKeown is all but unstoppable.
On Tuesday, at the second night of the Australian Olympic trials in Brisbane, McKeown put an exclamation mark on her dominance of the event. The Queenslander led the field from the first kick to the last to secure qualification for the Paris Games, setting the second fastest time in history with a blistering 57.41 – just eight one-hundredths of a second off her own world record. Barring a spectacular upset, McKeown is set to defend her Olympic title in less than 50 days’ time.
Remarkably, despite being less than a tenth of a second off a new record, McKeown expressed regret at her time. “I’m a little bit disappointed – my training has shown otherwise,” she said after the race. “But I’ve booked myself another ticket to Paris so that’s just another chance to go faster.”
It is McKeown’s second qualification in as many days, after setting a personal best in the women’s 200m individual medley on Monday – a race she did not contest in Tokyo, but will be among the favourites for in Paris. Later this week McKeown will seek to qualify for the 200m backstroke, where she is the defending Olympic champion and world record holder.
McKeown was followed home by freestyle star Mollie O’Callaghan, who has built a steady sideline as a backstroke swimmer. Having won two individual titles and three relay crowns at last year’s world championships, O’Callaghan will have a frenetic meet schedule in Paris. Despite qualifying with a personal best 57.88, it is unlikely she will contest the 100m backstroke – potentially opening the door for Iona Anderson, who finished third with 58.43.
Asked if she would race the discipline in Paris, O’Callaghan was non-committal. “I don’t know yet,” she said. “It really depends on if I qualify for the next two events [the 100m and 200m freestyle]. I think that’s the main thing, taking it day by day and then decide at the end with [coach] Dean [Boxall].”
In a poignant moment in the mixed zone, as a taciturn McKeown gave little away, her friend and teammate O’Callaghan was more expressive. “She did amazing,” O’Callaghan said as the pair stood next to each other. “Kaylee always does amazing. She’s always very tough on herself, but whatever she does is incredible – she should be proud of herself.”
Earlier on day two of the trials, 200m freestyle hopeful Maximillian Giuliani laughed to reporters that “no-one is going to remember what you do here – it’s all about what happens in Paris.” That may be true. But the times set in Brisbane this week sent a warning to rivals around the globe – and there was no clearer message than that from McKeown.
Australia’s backstroke superstar does not plan to give up her 100m crown lightly. And with speed like this, a new world record may well await in seven weeks’ time.
