PEDAL TO THE MEDAL
Swimming’s Ms Everywhere to hit go button on gold tidal wave
EMMA McKeon will tonight look to spark a Games gold rush, as the busiest woman in swimming sets sail for six major medals.
McKeon will have up to five races on today’s opening day of competition and is favourite to emerge with two gold medals as she starts a marathon program that could see her join Susie O’Neill and Ian Thorpe as our most successful swimmer at a single Games.
But she faces a big challenge from rising star Ariarne Titmus in a 200m freestyle final tonight that could be one of the highlights of the meet.
While McKeon won silver in the event at last year’s world championships – one of six medals she claimed in Budapest – she was beaten by Titmus at last month’s Games trials and will have to produce her best to overcome one of the most determined athletes on the Aussie team.
One of the quietest members of the swim team, McKeon is not about to make any brash statements – but her placid nature should not be mistaken for a lack of appetite.
“I’ve got a lot of ambition,” McKeon said. “(Shyness) doesn’t mean I’m any less passionate or excited or anything, it’s just how I am.”
That was evident when the 23-year-old admitted her two losses – in the 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly – had hurt.
“Usually I’m up on the top a bit more often at trials but I think it’s good for me, it’s just going to make me more motivated,” she said. “I’m not satisfied, that’s for sure.”
McKeon (left) made her senior international debut at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, winning six medals including four gold.
And while she admitted she had been uncomfortable in the spotlight that accompanied that success, she has grown more accustomed to it as her continual improvement led to her becoming one of the top swimmers in the world.
“I guess the more success you have the more attention you get,” McKeon said.
“Obviously you want to be successful but I definitely wasn’t comfortable with that sort of attention when I was younger.
“I remember those first few years when I started making the team I would get super nervous just to do that interview afterwards.
“Now I don’t even remember that until I get out of the pool.”
McKeon, like Titmus, is determined to make a statement at these Games as she continues her journey towards the Tokyo Olympics.
“As much as it’s a home Games ... and that’s really exciting, I have to keep in mind that it’s really just a stepping stone for 2020,” she said.
While Titmus’s best shots at gold are in the 400m and 800m freestyle later in the program, her improved speed means she poses a threat to McKeon in a race set to be a program highlight.
MACK Horton will attempt to replicate his Rio success in the 400m freestyle to kickstart Australia’s campaign in the pool and help decide his future heading into the Tokyo Olympics.
With the 800m freestyle to be added to the Olympic program in 2020, Horton must decide whether to specialise in middle-distance events or chase a place as one of Australia’s distance swimming greats.
Horton has enormous respect for the 1500m and its position in Australian swimming history but is yet to snare a major title in the event, while he is the Olympic champion over 400m.
While plenty of swimmers have doubled up in the 400m and 1500m, the addition of the 800m for Tokyo will make it increasingly difficult to manage a multi-event program and Horton knows a decision is looming.
“It’s tough, I think,” Horton said when asked if the 1500m was still his priority.
“Looking forward to Tokyo which is ultimately the goal, the 800m is now in there, so I have to find a balance between the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m and where I sit. I think we’ll get through these Games and Pan Pacs (in Japan in August) and then we’ll have to make a decision on where we sit going forward to Tokyo.
“It’s something that we’re thinking about but we haven’t decided yet.”
Horton’s Olympic success in the 400m in Rio and continued improvement in the 200m may sway him towards the shorter events.
“I’d like to get better at the 200m,” he said. “One of my favourite moments from Rio actually (is) anchoring that (4x200m) relay. Before Tokyo, I’m going to have to make a decision.”
Horton heads into today’s 400m freestyle holding the fastest time in the world in 2018, with his 3min 45.41 win at trials last month.
But the lack of early-season races in Europe skews the rankings and he will face a tough challenge from England’s James Guy, Scotland’s Stephen Milne and Australian teammates Jack Cartwright and David McKeon.