Gold Coast: Celebrity Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown has damaged the nationwide ladies’s 200m particular person medley file with a time that might have gained gold on the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and final yr’s world championships.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist then instructed media poolside that she wasn’t considering whether or not World Aquatics would introduce prizemoney for Olympic champions, which was a transfer made by World Athletics final week.
McKeown clocked 2:06.99 to win the nationwide title on the Australian swimming championships and break Olympic champion Stephanie Rice’s 14-year file, set in July 2009 on the world titles in Rome.
McKeown’s scorching swim on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night time despatched her rivals an ominous message because the 22-year-old Queenslander goals to win gold within the occasion on the Paris Video games.
She gained gold within the 100m and 200m backstroke on the Tokyo Video games and was a member of the triumphant 4x100m medley relay crew.
She’s now hoping to diversify her Olympic medal assortment within the French capital throughout July and August, however will seemingly need to beat Canadian teen prodigy Summer season McIntosh if she is to win the 200m particular person medley. McIntosh’s private greatest is 2:06.57.
Nonetheless, McKeown now boasts the quickest time within the occasion this yr.
“It is laborious to say,” McKeown stated when requested if she was stunned about breaking the Australian file.
“Generally you’ll be able to put collectively actually good periods and different instances you are barely scraping the barrel.
“To have the ability to try this right here, I used to be actually blissful. He [coach Michael Bohl] did put the problem to me that if I went below 2:07 I did not need to do the 400m IM, so possibly that was a draw … I am undecided if I am doing that tomorrow [Thursday].”
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McKeown contested the 200m particular person medley eventually yr’s world championships in Fukuoka, however was disqualified due to a stroke violation whereas transitioning from backstroke to breaststroke throughout her semi-final.
McKeown’s time of two:06.99 on Wednesday night time eclipsed Rice’s 2:07.03 nationwide file.
The successful time on the Tokyo Video games was 2:08.52 and eventually yr’s world championships it was 2:07.17.
McKeown stated she was relishing the problem of making an attempt to develop into an Olympic gold medallist within the 200m particular person medley.
“I am not the one on this planet that is doubling up,” McKeown stated.
“I feel it is one of the best factor that you are able to do for your self.
“I have been capable of do the coaching for it.
“I actually would get bored if I did not have challenges put in entrance of me. I feel it is one of the best factor to essentially problem an athlete on a regular basis.”
World Athletics revealed final week that monitor and subject champions in France wouldn’t solely win a gold medal, however $US50,000 (about AUD$78,000).
The choice by monitor and subject’s world governing physique goes in opposition to the Olympics’ newbie custom.
“I am not within the sport for cash; something I get is a bonus with that,” McKeown stated.
“I might be a tennis participant if I used to be wanting cash.
“I simply get pleasure from what I do and it is about the one factor I am good at.”
The Australian swimming championships, happening between Wednesday and Saturday, are separate to the Olympic choice trials, to be held in Brisbane from June 10-15.
