Kaylee McKeown’s Mobile Phone Meltdown, A Message From Regan Smith And The Fastest 200IM In The World This Year
A mobile phone that went into meltdown, five hours sleep after getting to bed at 1.30am and a congratulatory text from her main rival were all part of Kaylee McKeown’s world record breaking night in Adelaide.
But it was back in the pool tonight after some encouraging words from coach Chris Mooney before Australia’s latest swim star, added her second event for Tokyo 2021.
Twenty-four hours after breaking Regan Smith’s 2019 world record in the 100m backstroke, McKeown was back in the fast lane at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Adelaide winning the 200m individual medley in the fastest time in the world this year.
The 19-year-old USC Spartan from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast backed up for a comfortable win in a new Australian All-Comers record of 2:08.19 (27.71; 1:00.38/32.66; 1:37.71/37.34; 2:08.19/30.48) – the fastest time in the world since 2019 when Hungarian “Iron Lady” Katinka Hosszu continued her world medley domination.
DOMINANT: The best is yet to come in the Kaylee McKeown IM. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr / SOPAC.
Kaylee McKeown dominated from the outset and was never headed swimming away with team mate, 2012 London Olympian Tessa Wallace second in 2:11.79 and Meg Bailey (Hunter) third in 2:12.88.
Revealing after the race that previous world record holder, USA’s Regan Smith had again messaged her last night with McKeown wishing her all the best for her US Trials in Omaha Nebraska.
“No doubt they’ll be pretty fast over there….I’m all for supporting our team mates…even if they are from other countries.,” said McKeown, explaining how her night unfolded.
“My phone charge went pretty flat pretty quick and …I did the best I could recovery wise…I tried to get to sleep and I couldn’t…..the adrenalin was still pumping….so to get up this morning was pretty amazing.
“I went to bed about 1.30am and woke up at 6am – so no complaints there – still got five hours in.
“But backing up; that was the toughest thing I had to overcome this morning there was a lot of fatigue and I said to coach Chris Mooney ‘I don’t know how this is going to go this morning.’
“He was really good – he understands – he said ‘just give it your best – no pressure.’
“To have a coach like that is pretty amazing in itself.”
And on the execution of the 200IM?
“I definitely need to improve on my turns a lot more – I noticed myself, just taking a bit of a breather on the wall,” said Kaylee McKeown, before rushing off to find her mum Sharon for another mother daughter hug.
“But no complaints….it was under the qualifying time –I can’t ask for much more…..”
You get the feeling there is a lot of improvement to come in this one.
JACK ATTACK: Jack McLoughlin in full flight in the 800m freestyle. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
Meanwhile in the 800m freestyle, 400m qualifier Jack McLoughlin (Chandler) stormed home over the final 200m to swim the Olympic qualifier in 7:42.64 with Rackley’s Tommy Neill (third in the 200m freestyle and assured of a place in the 4x200m freestyle relay) agonisingly close to the 7:48.12 qualifying time of 7:48.65 and an automatic individual swim, with his fellow Damien Jones coached team mate from Centenary in Brisbane, Sam Short third in 7:56.81.
In the 200m butterfly, Nunawading’s Matthew Temple (1:55.25) produced a courageous fightback in the closing stages to snatch the men’s 200m butterfly from the fast finishing TSS Aquatic’s Rio Olympian David Morgan (1:55.40) and Temple’s team mate, National champion and pacesetter Bowen Gough (1:55.88), fading ever so slightly under the flags to miss the team by 0.44.
Swimming Australia photographer Delly Carr was poolside to capture the agony and the ecstacy of one of the toughest events on the Olympic swimming program…and these images tell the story of what it means to make the Olympic Team and what it means to miss out…..
FISTFULL: Matt Temple fought back to win the Trial – what a moment for the scaffolder from Nunawading. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
WELL ARMED: David Morgan fought on to finish second and qualify for his second Olympic team.Photo Courtesy:Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
WE’RE OFF TO TOKYO:David Morgan and Matthew Temple. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
HEARTBREAK: Bowen Gough comforted by Nunawading team mate Matthew Temple after his training partner missed the team, beaten by a touch. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
THE AGONY: National champion Bowen Gough after realising his Olympic dreams were over. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
Who can teach me? How to swim