- Kaylee McKeown almost broke her own world record
- The Australian sensation set the benchmark in Brisbane
- She will compete for Australia in Paris next month
Kaylee McKeown has swam the second-fastest women’s 100m backstroke ever – and then expressed her disappointment.
McKeown came within eight-hundredths of a second of her world record during the Olympic selection trials in Brisbane, Australia, on Tuesday evening.
She clocked a time of 57.41 seconds, approaching her benchmark of 57.33 from last October in Budapest.
“I’m a little disappointed,” McKeown said.
“But I’ve booked myself another ticket to Paris, so that’s just another chance to go faster.”
Kaylee McKeown almost broke her own world record during the Paris Olympics
The 22-year-old Australian sensation made a big statement in the women’s 100m backstroke
McKeown heads to Paris hoping to impress at the Games next month
The 22-year-old now has the six fastest times in the event’s history.
McKeown, the reigning Olympic champion in the 100 meters and 200 meters backstroke, will add the 200 meters individual medley to her program at the Paris Games next month.
She set a Commonwealth record in the medley on Monday evening: two minutes and 6.63 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.
“If you get up and do a 200 (medley) at max effort, you’re not going to come in feeling refreshed the next day — no matter what you do,” McKeown said.
“So the Olympics are exactly like that. If everything goes according to plan, I have nine individual events plus relays, so I have to put myself at risk here.”
McKeown was challenged by Mollie O’Callaghan in the opening round before pulling away.
O’Callaghan finished second in 57.88, also securing a place in the event for Paris.
But given her busy freestyle schedule, O’Callaghan isn’t sure whether she will compete in the backstroke.
“The 100 backstroke is a fun event for me, I don’t really train for it,” she said.