The opening session of the Rio Farewell Grand Prix kicked off at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre this morning with the best swimmers from across Australia, including the Olympic, Paralympic and Junior Pan Pacific Championship teams going head to head in what will be for many, their last racing opportunity ahead of Rio.
With 35 days to go until the Olympic Games and just over two months until the Paralympics, the swimmers are in tough training but posted some strong in season times in front of an excited crowd.
All eyes will be on the men’s 100m freestyle final tonight with crowd favourite Cameron McEvoy just getting the better of his relay teammate James Magnussen in this morning’s heats, hitting the wall in a time of 48.82. Magnussen was just a touch behind in 48.87 and with Olympic rookie Kyle Chalmers third fastest in 49.38 the race for first place will heat up tonight.
Dual World Champion Mitch Larkin was in fine form, clocking a 53.92 to qualify fastest for the final of the 100m backstroke, finishing a body-length and a half ahead of teammate Joshua Beaver (55.36) with 19-year-oldJames Traiforos (56.59) rounding out the top three.
The final of the women’s splash and dash 50m freestyle will see the usual sister act of Cate and Bronte Campbell battling for bragging rights. Cate will swim from lane four after posting a 24.23 in the heats with Bronte just behind in 24.77 and Brittany Elmslie hot on their heels in 25.16.
In the corresponding Multi Class event, rising star Rachael Watson proved a force to be reckoned with in the 50m freestyle. Watson clocked an impressive 39.76 for 1012 points to qualify fastest for the final tonight ahead of Paralympian Ellie Cole (29.44, 960) and Melbourne Vicentre’s Ashleigh McConnell (30.07, 901).
Swimming Australia contributed this report.