Swimming's latest rising star Kaylee McKeown has swum within a whisker of the world 100m backstroke record in Sydney in a sizzling warning shot in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympics.
The 19-year-old from Queensland's Sunshine Coast stopped the clock at 57.63 on Saturday - the second day of finals at the Sydney Open.
It was just six one-hundredths of a second (0.06) outside the 2019 world record of 57.57, set by American Regan Smith at the 2019 World Championships - and sets up a cracking duel in the pool in Japan.
McKeown, who with fellow Queenslander Emma McKeon, has been in red hot form at the final meet being swum at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre before next month's crucial Australian Olympic Trials in Adelaide.
"When I touched the wall I looked over at my coach Chris Mooney and he wasn't looking at me ... and I thought what?" said McKeown.
"He was (actually) shaking hands with all the other coaches and of course he came down and of course he's happy with me as well.
"I wasn't expecting to come out and do that swim this morning and I've got no complaints about it. I'm pretty happy."
McKeown revealed she received a text from her number one rival (Regan Smith) after also nudging her world 200m backstroke record yesterday, when McKeown clocked the fourth fastest time in history, with her 2:04.31.
"It's nice to hear from competitors from all over the world, nice to know they're watching and they've got your back as well," revealed McKeown.
And will the world record be in her sights in Adelaide?
"I don't think about the world records ... going to the trials I'll just rock up at the meet and do the best that I can ... if it happens on the day it happens, if it doesn't it doesn't."
McKeown has certainly made every post a winner in an outstanding 12 month countdown which has seen her re-write the Australian backstroking record books, claiming the world short course record in the 200m backstroke along the way.
And her performances came after the tragic loss of her father Sholto last August after a brave two-year battle with brain cancer.
"Having the year I had last year has really put things into perspective for me and I realised there's no point wasting my time," said McKeown.
McKeown will line up tonight in the heats of the 200m individual medley, with the final to be swum tomorrow morning - one of three events, along with the 100 and 200m backstroke she will target for the Games.
Australian Associated Press
