Who will take gold in the pool? Our form guide crunches the numbers
IT’S going to be a big day in the pool with at least three gold medals on offer for Australia. This is our form guide to today’s biggest swimming finals in Rio.
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IT’S going to be a big day in the pool with at least three gold medals on offer for Australia. This is our form guide to today’s biggest swimming finals in Rio.
Women’s 200m breaststroke
Australia’s Taylor McKeown is the fastest qualifier in this event and make no mistake, it’s a wide open affair. McKeown looked in great form with her 2:21.69 semi-final victory yesterday, going out to an early lead and holding on all the way. Expect her to try the same tactic today although in the final she won’t be alone in setting an early pace. With world champion Kanako Watanabe failing to make the final it’s hard to know where the challengers are coming from. World record holder Rikke Moller Pedersen from Denmark looms as a threat having gone 2:19.11 in 2013, but last year she was third at the world titles and is either foxing or not at her best here in Rio too.
Tip: Taylor McKeown (Australia)
Men’s 200m backstroke
Australia’s world champion Mitch Larkin (1:54.73) will be fired up for a big final having been disappointed with his fourth place in the 100m final. Larkin controlled his semi-final quite well, but was overhauled by Russia’s fastest qualifier Evgeny Rylov (1:54.45) on the final lap. They’ll both go at least a second quicker in the final and although USA’s 100m Olympic champ Ryan Murphy is being talked about as the favourite he needs a big jump to go with these two. Expect Larkin to lead and Rylov to come storming home late.
Tip: Evgeny Rylov (Russia)
Men’s 200m individual medley
This will bring to an end one of the great rivalries in swimming between US mates Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. The 200m IM has been their battlefield for many years and Phelps holds the power. But come the final expect a new challenger to give Phelps a shake with Olympic 400m medley champ Kosuke Hagino the biggest threat. Hagino is in top form here and really has no weakness. It will take a huge effort but Phelps should be too strong and claim his 22nd Olympic gold medal.
Tip: Michael Phelps (USA)
Women’s 100m freestyle
World record holder Cate Campbell holds all the aces here. If she gets near her best time, then no-one can touch her. But just as Australia learnt with Cameron McEvoy in the men’s final, best times mean nothing when the starter’s gun is fired. World champion Bronte Campbell has not shown her best yet, progressing through the heats and semis without hitting top gear so could be a danger in lane two while Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden is another who will be fighting for the medals. But the real shock is Canadian 16-year-old Penny Oleksiak who pushed Cate Campbell all the way in the semi-finals, breaking 53 seconds for the first time, and like Kyle Chalmers has shown no signs of nerves on the big stage.
Tip: Cate Campbell (Australia)
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Originally published as Who will take gold in the pool? Our form guide crunches the numbers
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