Paris Olympics: Australia’s Emma McKeon fails to qualify to defend 100m freestyle gold
- McKeon, who pushed Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey to silver in Tokyo, finished sixth while seven of the eight finalists got under the qualifying time
Olympic 100m freestyle champion Emma McKeon will not defend her title in Paris after missing out on qualifying on Friday with Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack securing the two Australian slots at stake.
O’Callaghan surged home on day five of the Australian trials in Brisbane in 52.33 seconds, with Jack (52.72) second ahead of a top-class field.
No other country, including the United States, can boast such depth over the distance, with seven of the eight finalists under the qualifying time.
Meg Harris and Bronte Campbell came third and fourth to be part of their formidable 4x100m relay team, who are not only Olympic champions but hold the world record and the eight fastest times in history.
McKeon, who beat Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey to silver at the Tokyo Olympics, could only manage sixth behind teenager Olivia Wunsch.
The 30-year-old McKeon – Australia’s most decorated Olympian, with 11 medals, including five gold – had already booked a ticket to France in the 100m butterfly and will still be part of the relay squad with six swimmers traditionally allowed.
