By Tom Decent
Mack Horton’s international career is at a crossroads after the one-time Olympic champion finished 22nd overall in the heats of the 200-metre freestyle at the Australian swimming trials.
Horton’s disappointment was contrasted to Kaylee McKeown’s delight at her win in the 100m backstroke in a time that was just 0.05 seconds outside her world record.
Isaac Cooper (men’s 100m backstroke), Abbey Harkin (women’s 100m breaststroke) Kai Taylor (men’s 200m freestyle) and Cam McEvoy (men’s 50m butterfly) also produced morale-boosting victories on Wednesday evening at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
However, the big talking point came on the morning of day two of competition as one of Australia’s most recognised swimmers put himself in danger of missing out on selection for the Dolphins team ahead of next month’s world championships in Japan.
On the opening night of competition on Tuesday, Horton (3:46.71s) finished third in the men’s 400m freestyle, behind Sam Short (3:43.38s) and Elijah Winnington (3:43.48s).
To book their ticket to Fukuoka, swimmers need to finish in the top two and meet Swimming Australia’s strict qualifying times.
Horton, who hasn’t lowered his personal best of 3:41.55s since the 2016 Rio Olympics, is well off the pace.
Horton famously beat Sun Yang to win gold in Rio and refused to share a podium with the Chinese swimmer three years later after labelling him a “drug cheat”.
Mack Horton competes at the Australian swimming trials in Melbourne. Credit: Getty Images
In 2021, Horton failed to qualify for the 400m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics but was taken as a relay swimmer.
He missed the 400m final at the 2022 world championships but won a bronze medal later that year at the Commonwealth Games.
Horton’s best chance of sneaking onto the Australian team for the upcoming world championships would have been via the 4x200 relay team. The 200m is certainly not Horton’s best event but one in which he has performed well during his career.
He won a gold medal as part of Australia’s 4x200m freestyle relay team at the Commonwealth Games last year and also picked up a bronze in the event at the Tokyo Olympics.
Horton (right) won a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images
The top six finishers in Wednesday night’s 200m freestyle final will head to Fukuoka as part of the wider relay team, while the top two will race the individual event on July 25.
On Wednesday morning, Horton looked sluggish through the four-lap race.
After all heat swims, Horton’s time of 1:51.04s was the 22nd fastest time overall. Kyle Chalmers qualified fastest after the heats (1:46.97s) but pulled out of Wednesday night’s final to concentrate on his 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly events.
Horton’s last chance of making it onto the Australian team rests with the 800m freestyle event on Thursday.
All signs suggest Horton won’t be able to match it with Short and Winnington. If he doesn’t, his international future looks bleak.
Meanwhile, McKeown fired a warning shot to her international rivals with a sizzling time of 57.50s that was just outside her world record of 57.45s. She edged out Mollie O’Callaghan (58.42s) and Iona Anderson (1:00.05s).
It was McKeown’s second victory of the week – after her 200m individual medley win – and sets her up nicely for the 200m backstroke on Friday. She also holds the world record in that event.
“It was really nice to get in the low 57s. I wasn’t expecting that, so it was a nice surprise,” McKeown said. “It’s always good to have Mollie pushing me along.
Cody Simpson, the former pop star who is trying to represent Australia at the Paris Olympics, finished fourth in his 50m butterfly final. His big chance of making the team will come on Sunday when he swims the 100m butterfly against Matt Temple and Kyle Chalmers.
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