At the Olympic trials, Kaylee McKeown sets a new world mark in the 100m backstroke.

• Kaylee McKeown, 19, beats previous global benchmark by 0.12 seconds
• Seebohm finishes second to qualify for fourth Games in Tokyo

Kaylee McKeown of Australia says her father’s death ten months ago spurred her to break the world record in the 100m backstroke. On Sunday night, the 19-year-old established a world record during Australia’s Olympic trials in Adelaide.

McKeown won the 100m backstroke final in 57.45 seconds, breaking the previous world record of 57.57 established by American Regan Smith in 2019. Sholto, her father, died in August following a two-year struggle with brain cancer. He was 53 years old at the time.

Source: Theguardian

“With Covid and my father’s death in August of last year, there has been a great, massive build-up to these trials,” she explained. “And I’ve turned it into a source of inspiration and hunger for me. “I use it every day when I wake up. I understand that being able to walk and talk on this planet is a privilege. So getting up and doing that tonight is more for my family than for me.”

McKeown waved to her mother Sharon, who was in the grandstand at the South Australian Aquatic Centre to witness her daughter’s feat.

Kaylee McKeown said

“I knew she was up in the crowd, I don’t like looking up before I walk out because I get a bit nervous but … I couldn’t help,” she said.

McKeown achieved a Commonwealth and Australian record of 57.63 last month. However, it wasn’t until just before warm-up on Sunday night that her coach, Chris Mooney, hinted that the world record was a possibility.

“He did say something to me before I got in for warm-up, it was like ‘you know buddy, I believe in you’,” she said. “I knew and he knew at that time, that it was go time.

“He knew something special was about to happen. I may not have known it but I was just trying to keep the nerves down as much as I could.

“I wouldn’t say it was a goal, I think I am more of a process-oriented person than times, and it just so happens that I nailed all those little pinpoints that I am going for.”

McKeown’s performance sets up a highly anticipated matchup with American great Smith at the Tokyo Olympics next month. “It’s just whoever shows up on the day,” she explained. “You never know what can happen in five, six weeks.”

Emily Seebohm, a four-time Olympian, finished second behind McKeown, winning a spot in her fourth Olympics.

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