Australia’s swimming team is poised to reclaim its position atop the medal standings at the world championships in Singapore, spearheaded by backstroke star Kaylee McKeown and freestyle sprinter Cameron McEvoy. After a challenging Friday night that saw Australia drop to second place with a medal tally of five gold, two silver, and six bronze—behind the United States’ five gold, ten silver, and five bronze—the team is determined to bounce back.
In the women’s 100m freestyle final, Mollie O’Callaghan was considered a strong contender but finished just short of victory. Despite her late surge, she lost to Dutch swimmer Marrit Steenbergen by a narrow margin of 0.12 seconds. This result means O’Callaghan will need to delay her quest to surpass Ian Thorpe‘s record of 11 world championship gold medals.
Australia’s only other medal on Friday night came from the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team. The quartet, consisting of Flynn Southam, Charlie Hawke, Kai Taylor, and Maximillian Giuliani, surprised many by finishing just behind China in a tight race, clocking in at 7:00.98. Great Britain claimed gold with a time of 6:59.84.
Eyes on Saturday’s Finals
While Friday’s results may not have led to a gold rush, the upcoming events are promising for the Australian team. Kaylee McKeown, a two-time Olympic champion, will compete in the 200m backstroke final. She previously secured victory in the 100m backstroke final on Wednesday, defeating her rival Regan Smith. The competition will be intense, with McKeown facing off against talented swimmers including Xuwei Peng, Anastasiya Shkurdai, and Claire Curzan.
McEvoy is also set to make waves in the men’s 50m freestyle final. He qualified with a time of 21.30 seconds, expressing optimism about his performance. “I can’t complain; it’s only 0.05 off what I did to win Paris,” McEvoy stated following his semi-final swim. He is focusing on harnessing the energy of the finals atmosphere rather than fixating on the clock.
Additionally, Australians Alexandria Perkins and Lily Price will compete in the women’s 50m butterfly final, while Matt Temple qualified sixth fastest for the men’s 100m butterfly final. During the daytime heats, Isaac Cooper will swim in the men’s 50m backstroke, and both Meg Harris and Olivia Wunsch are set to take part in the women’s 50m freestyle. Sam Short is hoping to compete in the men’s 1500m freestyle despite battling illness.
O’Callaghan reflected on her performance, attributing her finish in the 100m freestyle final to fatigue from a demanding schedule. Despite the setback, Ian Thorpe remains confident in O’Callaghan’s potential. “I’m certain and I can’t wait to see Mollie surpass that,” he told the Nine Network. He emphasized the opportunity for her to create a lasting legacy in swimming as she approaches the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
As the Australian team eyes the next round of events, hopes remain high for a return to gold, with McKeown and McEvoy leading the charge for their country.
