McKeon’s keeping up her speed

EMMA McKeon’s resolve to continue as the ironwoman of the Australian swimming team has been strengthened after clearing the mental hurdle of a stacked trials program.

McKeon (pictured) tackled the 200m freestyle/200m butterfly double on the opening night of finals to not only seal her place on the Commonwealth Games team but bolster her confidence after managing the gruelling program.

While she finished second in both events – to Ariarne Titmus in the freestyle and teen tyro Laura Taylor in the butterfly – McKeon achieved her sole objective of winning a place on the Games team.

“Obviously I’m a competitor and I’m a racer and I want to win,” she said. “But here, it’s about coming top three at trials and

I’m happy with how

I’ve raced.”

And with the events on separate days at the Games next month, McKeon is out to be at her best in each, meaning she is likely to continue her efforts as a multiple medal winner at international events.

“I knew it was going to be a hard day, four 200s in one day, but all I needed to do was make the team,” McKeon said

“I’ve never really done that kind of day before. That’s very challenging and it’s a personal challenge for me and for my mental side of things as well.

“I know that kind of day today is going to help me have that big program every year.”

McKeon and coach Michael Bohl had agonised over whether to add the 200m butterfly to her program but having overcome the taxing trials schedule, she can reap the payoff next month.

McKeon will add three relays to her Games program, meaning she is likely to have seven swims overall in another marathon performance.

“Just getting through it really, it’s hard mentally and even harder physically, so I take a lot of confidence from it,” she said of the trials effort.

While other athletes have won gold at the Olympics and world championships over the past two years, McKeon has been a standout performer.