Commonwealth Games: Maggie Mac Neil Tops Emma McKeon in Epic 100 Fly
A rematch of the women’s 100 butterfly final at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday at the Commonwealth Games did not disappoint.
Maggie Mac Neil came out on top again, as she did last summer in Tokyo, in an outstanding race, .02 ahead of Tokyo bronze medalist Emma McKeon is a grandstand final.
Mac Neil got to the wall first in 56.36. That time is her fastest of the season and is the fourth-fastest in the world in 2022. McKeon, in 56.38, slots into fifth in the world.
Mac Neil also took down McKeon’s Commonwealth Games record from 2018 (56.78).
The splits for both swimmers:
- MacNeil 26.53 – 29.83 – 56.36
- McKeon 26.41 – 29.97 – 56.38
Both times would’ve won bronze at the 2022 World Championships. McKeon skipped that event, while Mac Neil elected to swim only relays. That physical and mental break seems to be paying off for the Canadian.
“In retrospect, I think that was the best decision I made for myself at the time, both physically and emotionally,” Mac Neil said last week during a media Zoom call before the Games. “My elbow is healing up well, so that’s always good news to hear, and I’ve little problem with it since. And just being able to focus on the relays, it’s been such a mainstay on the team since, first starting in Rio and continuing to grow since then. Getting a lot of medals in the relays was definitely our big goal going into Budapest, so I was glad that I could step in that moment and help out those girls, which is what I was there to do. I learned a lot I think about myself and being a team player.”
Both swimmers separated from the pack early. Mac Neil’s margin ended up coming off the start, where she had a .07 edge in reaction time.
The bronze medal went to Brianna Throssell in 57.50. She was solidly ahead of countrywoman Alex Perkins by .37. Canada’s Katerine Savard finished fifth.
