Mack Horton set to make 4x200m relay team for Tokyo Games

Mack Horton is set to go to the Tokyo Olympic Games but the gold medallist’s schedule is nowhere near as busy as he would have hoped.

Mack Horton may just have booked his ticket to Tokyo.

A day after Mack Horton missed the opportunity to defend his 400m gold medal, the Victorian has sealed his place on the Olympic team — but only just.

Horton finished sixth in a hot 200m freestyle field with 1.32 seconds between first and eighth in the event.

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Horton was 0.85 seconds slower than Kyle Chalmers who took out the event, while Elijah Winnington, who usurped Horton as the 400m king, finished close behind in second.

While it may seem like it wouldn’t be good enough for the 25-year-old to qualify, Horton is set to go to Tokyo to chase 4x200m gold with the Australian team.

Australia last medalled in the 4x200m at the Athens Games in 2004, and last claimed gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

In the relay events, Australia will take six swimmers as the two individual competitors will only swim in the final of the event, meaning the other four will make up the team in the heats.

Kyle Chalmers loves winning. Takes out the 200m freestyle, first four went under. And Horton is sixth... he's going to Tokyo my friends. Chalmers gets Alex Graham in the final strokes, top four all under OQ #2021AusTrials

— Phil Lutton (@phillutton78) June 13, 2021

Great news for Mack Horton he placed 6th in the 200 metre freestyle final. He’s a chance for the Olympic relay time. @7NewsSydney

— Mylee Hogan (@MyleeHogan) June 13, 2021

What a stunning night at the pool. McKeown's world record. Titmus almost a world record and the fastest time for five years. Chalmers winning the 200m and Mack Horton looks like he could make the 4x200m relay. Australian swimming is in rude health with #Tokyo2020 coming.

— David Mark (@davymark1) June 13, 2021

Horton does have some great history in the 4x200m on the international stage however.

The middle-distance specialist was a key member of Australia’s men’s 4x200m freestyle that won gold at the 2019 World Championships, swimming a sizzling anchor leg, with a team fastest 1:44.85 to bring Australia the victory.

Horton does still have a chance to make an individual event at the Tokyo Games with the 800m still remaining in his schedule.

However, Horton is not expected to place in the top two in the 800m as it’s not his strongest event.

The Olympic trials have not gone exactly to plan for Horton.

After missing out on the 400m individual event, Horton was generous in defeat as the next generation of stars took the Olympic spots.

“Very happy for the boys, Jack works his arse off, has done for years, Elijah is so talented. Hopefully they can keep carrying the 400m legacy for Australia,” he said.

“I was comfortable pretty much the whole way. I thought I had it to be honest. I was just on the wrong side of the pool, breathing the wrong way, I literally gave it everything. As long as you give it your all.

“Every time you turn in the 300m, you always question if there is another 100m in there. That was the same today, clearly not enough.”

Jack McLoughlin, who claimed second in the 400m, paid tribute to Horton after the race.

“He’s probably my most admired swimmer,” McLoughlin said. “And I see what he does in training, he’s an animal and I have so much from respect for him. So now I feel like it’s Elijah and my duty to go and do well at the Olympics because if we don’t really take that up, then we’ll let him down as well.”

In a busy night in the pool, Kaylee McKeown won the 100m backstroke title, breaking the world record in the process.

While the previous world record holder Regan Smith still has a chance to reclaim the record when the US Olympic trials start on Monday (AEST), it’s quite a statement from McKeown.

Equally, Ariarne Titmus fired a shot an American 400m freestyle champion Katie Ledecky with a sizzling race that handed her the second fastest time in history in the event, also handing her first Olympic berth.

Emily Seebohm booked her fourth Olympic campaign with second in the 100m backstroke, while Mitch Larkin earned his third Olympic cap with first in the men’s hundred.