St Peters Western Swim Club’s Emma McKeon takes bronze in women’s 200m freestyle final

ST PETERS Western Swim Club’s Emma McKeon has added individual bronze to her relay gold after pushing some of world swimming’s biggest names.

Australia's Emma McKeon wins the bronze medal in the Women's 200m freestyle final on day 4 of the swimming at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Bronte Barratt with her. Picture. Phil Hillyard

ST PETERS Western Swim Club’s Emma McKeon has added individual bronze to her relay gold after pushing some of world swimming’s biggest names in the final of the women’s 200m freestyle on Wednesday morning.

After teaming with Cate and Bronte Campbell and Brittany Elmslie to take out the 4x100m freestyle relay crown on Sunday, McKeon produced the fastest 200m freestyle time (1:54.92) by an Australian to snatch third place behind America’s Katie Ledecky (1.53.73) and Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom (1:54.08).

Australia's Emma McKeon wins the bronze medal in the Women's 200m freestyle final on day 4 of the swimming at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Bronte Barratt with her. Picture. Phil Hillyard

It was a remarkable turnaround for the 22-year-old after a disappointing seventh-place finish in yesterday’s 100m butterfly final.

Appearing in her third and final Games, Bronte Barratt, McKeon’s St Peters Western clubmate, produced a PB (1:55.25) to finish tied for fifth in the 200m free final.

“I’m so happy,” McKeon said.

“After last night I was a bit unsure but my coach, (Michael Bohl), just said ‘pretend it’s trials’. I think it’s just about being tough. That’s what I proved to myself tonight — that I can get out there in an Olympic final and be tough.”

Barratt, who held the previous Australian 200m free record, was ecstatic for her teammate.

“I’m so happy for Emma to get a bronze medal. I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” the 28-year-old Samford Stingers product said.

“I’m so happy. I haven’t done a PB in over five years. I can’t wait for the relay tomorrow, it will be lots of fun.”

Another of the St Peters Western crew, Madeline Groves, is the fastest qualifier for the 200m butterfly final on Thursday morning after winning the second semi final.

Australia's Madeline Groves competes in a Women's 200m Butterfly heat during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Odd Andersen

The 21-year-old led from start to finish, with her time of 2:05.66 the fastest by an Australian at the Olympics.

“It’s very exciting going in fastest (but) a lane is a lane and I’m ready for a battle tomorrow night,” Groves said.

“My strength is definitely going out fast in the first 100 and trying to play a bit of ‘catch me if you can’.”

Competing at her last Olympics, Alicia Coutts finished fifth in the final of the women’s 200m individual medley.

The former Chisholm Catholic College Cornubia student posted a time of 2:10.88 as Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu (2:06.58) claimed victory with a new Olympic record.

“I’m really happy, I just went out there and did the best job that I could,” Coutts, 28, said.

“I would like to have gone faster … I’m just excited and (ready) to move on to new things. It’s a sad feeling knowing it’s the end of an era for me but it’s nice to go out on my own terms. I’m really proud of my achievements.”