Emma McKeon defeats Cate Campbell at Olympic swimming trials

Emma McKeon has caused a major boilover at the Australian Olympic swimming trials, getting the better of Cate Campbell in the 100m freestyle.

It was a close call but Cate Campbell will get a shot at Olympic redemption in Tokyo after she qualified for the 100m freestyle at the Australian swimming trials in Adelaide.

Emma McKeon caused a major upset to win the race in 52.35, slightly slower than her sizzling personal best of 52.19 that she set in the morning heats.

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Campbell was second in a solid time of 52.59, which was good enough to book her ticket to Tokyo.

Madi Wilson was third in 52.76, just 0.17sec behind Campbell.

1. Emma McKeon (Griffith Uni) 52.35*QT
2. Cate Campbell (Knox Pymble) 52.59*QT
3. Madison Wilson (Marion) 52.76#2021AusTrialspic.twitter.com/u9tVZLtdOf

— Swimming Australia (@SwimmingAUS) June 16, 2021

Campbell was the red-hot favourite for gold in the 100m at the last Olympic Games but swam a disappointing race in Rio, finishing sixth and missing out on the medals.

The 29-year-old joins Leisel Jones and Emily Seebohm as only the third Australian swimmer to go to four Olympic Games.

“Relief, that is just the presiding emotion for me right now,” Campbell said after the race.

“Who would have thought? I dreamt of going to the Olympics when I was nine years old.

“Most people get to do it once in their life and here I am — nearly 30 years old — getting to go to my fourth.

“It’s honestly a dream come true.”

Cate Campbell off to her fourth Olympics. Magnificent achievement after the ups & downs of her career. Hope she gets the individual gold she deserves, but this Olympics will be tougher than Rio.

— Todd Balym (@balymt) June 16, 2021

Cate Campbell (left) and Emma McKeon will swim the 100m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Cate’s younger sister Bronte was fifth and will go to Tokyo as a member of the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay squad.

Remarkably, the first four swimmers in the final were all under 53 seconds, meaning the Australian women’s 4x100m freestyle relay will go into the Tokyo Games as unbackable favourites for gold.

McKeon will swim at least three individual events at the Olympics — the 100m butterfly, 200m freestyle and 100m freestyle — and will be a key member of several of Australia’s relays.

Congrats to @emma_mckeon getting it done in the @AUSOlympicTeam 100m freestyle final in 52.35. Challenged and responded to the great Cate Campbell there. #2021AusTrials

— Tim Barrow (@TheBarrow) June 16, 2021

She and the Campbell sisters will look to add another event to their Olympic program when they race the 50m freestyle at trials on Thursday.

Mitch Larkin posts sensational time in 200m individual medley

Earlier in the night, Mitch Larkin confirmed he will be right in the hunt for a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics after swimming the second fastest time in the world this year in the 200m individual medley.

Larkin touched in 1:56.29, just shy of his personal best but comfortably under the Olympic qualifying time.

Brendon Smith finished second behind Larkin and was outside the qualifying time, but will likely swim the 200m individual medley in Tokyo after he qualified for the 400m IM earlier in the competition.

1. Mitch Larkin (St Peters Western) 1:56.29*QT
2. Brendon Smith (Nunawading) 1:58.82
3. Se-Bom Lee (Carlile) 2:00.36#2021AusTrialspic.twitter.com/vG450bWssF

— Swimming Australia (@SwimmingAUS) June 16, 2021

Only Great Britain’s Duncan Scott has swum faster than Larkin in the 200m IM this year, posting a time of 1:55.90 at the British Olympic trials.

“Pretty happy with that,” Larkin said after the race.

“You’re swimming for a spot in Tokyo so you can dig a little deeper than normal.”

Larkin, who won silver in the 200m backstroke in Rio, has made the tough choice to drop the race from his program to focus on the 200m individual medley.

Mitch Larkin will focus on the 200m individual medley at the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The two races are scheduled on the same day at the Olympics and the 27-year-old believes he has a better chance of winning a medal in Tokyo in the 200m individual medley.

“It’s not an easy choice. Obviously the 200m backstroke is a passion of mine,” Larkin said.

“It’s a bit of a difficult choice picking between one and the other but I had to make a decision. But I think I’ve made the right choice.”

Larkin will also swim the 100m backstroke at the Olympics after he qualified for that event on Sunday.

Two swimmers qualify for Tokyo in women’s 200m breastroke

In a great result, two swimmers have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 200m breastroke.

Jenna Strauch won the race in a time of 2:23.12, just ahead of Abbey Harkin who touched in 2:23.59.

1. Jenna Strauch (Bond) 2:23.12*QT
2. Abbey Harkin (St Peters Western) 2:23.59*QT
3. Tessa Wallace (USC Spartans) 2:24.86#2021AusTrialspic.twitter.com/JInNpiN5u1

— Swimming Australia (@SwimmingAUS) June 16, 2021

Both Strauch and Harkin set personal bests to go under the qualifying time of 2:24.18.

There will be four Autralian female breastrokers competing at the Olympics after Chelsea Hodges and Jessica Hansen qualified for the 100m breastroke earlier in the meet.

Tristan Hollard qualifies for the Olympics in men’s 200m backstroke

In Larkin’s absence, Tristan Hollard won the men’s 200m backstroke and booked his ticket to Tokyo, finishing first in a time of 1:56.44.

Ty Hartwell touched second in 1:57.45 but was an agonising 0.19sec short of the qualifying time of 1:57.26.

1. Tristan Hollard (Southport Olympic) 1:56:44*QT
2. Ty Hartwell (Chandler) 1:57.45
3. Travis Mahoney (Marion) 1:58.06#2021AusTrialspic.twitter.com/cWmKlsFweO

— Swimming Australia (@SwimmingAUS) June 16, 2021