The Dolphins may have taken just the one silver after Day 2 of the 2022 World Swimming Championships but they’re still in 2nd in the medal tally right now with two gold and two silver, even though they’re a few medals behind Team USA – who picked up three more gold & four bronze today.
Yes, it was hard to watch when Kaylee McKeown pulled out out the 100m backstroke which is one of her best races that helped her secure both Olympic gold medals last year in Tokyo. She could’ve also taken the risk to try & take home two gold medals – the 100m backstroke & 200m individual medley – all on the one day for Australia that would’ve put them just ahead of Team USA in the number of golds accrued on this medal tally.
However, it’s not something she‘s prepared for at this stage as McKeown wants to test out a variety of different formats on the road to the Paris 2024 Olympics, and then look to win as many gold medals as she can.
Nonetheless, she swam really well in the Women’s 200m individual medley final where it was a more challenging race than just the usual backstroke, as McKeown finished 2nd at 2:08:57 behind Alex Walsh (2:07:13).
We also saw some of our Dolphins in action who just couldn’t keep up the rest of the field either in the heats and/or finals; Zac Stubblety-Cook (P7 in Men’s 100m breastroke Final); Issac Alan Cooper (P6 in the Men’s 100m backstroke Semi-Final 1); Mitch Larkin (P7 in Men’s 100m backstroke Semi-Final 2); Brianna Throssell (P6 in the Women’s 100m Butterfly Final); And Jenna Stauch fell just short of the Top 3 bubble in P4 during semi final 1 of the Women’s 100m breaststroke – despite a brilliant start from the heats earlier in the day at P2.
There’s always the bright side though when it comes to 22-year-old Elijah Winnington after his heroics from Day 1 of the Men’s 400m freestyle final; he’s on the hunt towards another gold for the Men’s 200m Freestyle Final tomorrow on Day 3, having finished 3rd in Semi-Final 1 just a few hours ago.
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