The women’s 100m freestyle final on Saturday evening at the Australian swimming trials should be the most hotly contested event on this week’s program.
Not only will there be fast times, but there will also be heartache as only the top two will qualify to swim the event at next month’s world championships in Japan.
It seems everyone at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre has a different opinion on who among Emma McKeon, Mollie O’Callaghan or Shayna Jack will touch the wall first.
McKeon seems the favourite. She’s the reigning Olympic champion in the 100m freestyle and set a new Australian record in Tokyo (51.96s).
However, McKeon’s coach Michael Bohl has gently played down expectations, given McKeon’s primary focus is making it to next July’s Paris Olympics.
McKeon has never won a long course 100m freestyle world title.
Emma McKeon, Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack will compete for two world championship qualifying spots in the women’s 100m freestyle. Credit: Getty
“Emma’s not going to be at Tokyo Olympics [level] here but she’s still swimming well enough to put a reasonable 100 together,” said Bohl, McKeon’s long-time coach.
“Emma wants to work, but I’m protecting her a little bit because I know what’s going to happen next year. It’s going to be a big year physically and emotionally and I didn’t want to exhaust everything. We’ve been a little more controlled.
“She’s swimming relatively well, but she’s not at that level. There’s no stress about that.
“She’ll be 30 at the next Olympics if she makes it. She’s seen Michael Phelps perform well as a 31-year-old, so there’s people before who have done it.”
Shayna Jack (silver medal), Mollie O’Callaghan (gold medal) and Emma McKeon (bronze medal) at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year. Credit: AP
If McKeon isn’t quite at her peak, watch out for reigning world champion O’Callaghan.
The 19-year-old could be Australia’s most successful swimmer come the Paris Olympics.
O’Callaghan won the 100m freestyle at last year’s world championships in Budapest when McKeon was absent. She backed that up with a win at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Given how impressive O’Callaghan was in her 200m freestyle victory over Ariarne Titmus on Thursday night, her 100m personal best of 52.49s could be in danger of being broken.
“It will be a very, very big race,” O’Callaghan said. “It’s a bit of the unknown. I don’t know how the other girls race.
“I’m just going into this race hoping I can get top two, a personal best, make the relay team … anything I’d absolutely take.
“The 100m freestyle is the one that I’m most nervous for. I feel like it’s just a whole lot of pressure to do what I did last year.”
Then there’s Shayna Jack, who is well and truly back in her groove after a two-year drugs ban. Jack has always maintained her innocence.
Australian sprinter Shayna Jack.Credit: Getty
Jack has a personal best of 52.60s and is flourishing under the guidance of O’Callaghan’s coach, Dean Boxall, who also has Ariarne Titmus and a number of other stars.
She did not compete at last year’s world championships after breaking her hand as a result of slipping over on a pool deck.
Three-time Olympian and 2015 world champion Bronte Campbell will also compete but is more focused on Paris after taking some time away from the pool.
It’s the same story for her sister Cate, except she isn’t in Melbourne this week.
“Australia is just blessed with people in that event,” Bohl said. “It’s great for the relay but it’s going to be challenging.
“I think it’s going to get the best out of Australia for the next 14 months.”
