Spearheaded by world 400m champion Ariarne Titmus, the Dolphins pose a serious threat to the United States’ rule in the pool. The Dolphins will be looking to end their dry spell in which they have not won an individual medal in women’s swimming since Beijing 2008, where they were the dominant force. Australia has selected a strong swimming contingent spearheaded by three women – Titmus, Kaylee McKeown and Emma McKeon – who could contribute a chunk of their medals in the pool. The three women will be eyeing eight individual medals between them in the individual events while playing an equally important role in the relays. We dip our toes into the pool for a look at Australia’s rising female swimmers that are set to shine in the Tokyo 2020 swimming competition starting this weekend.
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Emma McKeon Returning for her second Olympic Games appearance, McKeon will feel the weight of expectation on her 27-year-old shoulders. McKeon made a dream debut in Rio 2016, where she won four medals – including bronze in the 200m freestyle and gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay – and will be back with an even greater appetite for silverware. She demonstrated her multi-medal winning abilities at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, where she bowed out with six medals which included an individual bronze in the 100m butterfly. McKeon will be stepping onto the pool deck in Tokyo 2020 with her sights set firmly on bagging multiple medals, which would elevate her into legendary territory. She will be competing in three individual events – 50m, 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly. Her versatility makes her a crucial cog in the Australian relay machine, and she is expected to race in four of the team events raising her prospects of winning seven medals in total. The Wollongong-born swimmer boasts the world-leading times in both the 50m and 100m freestyle events, while she is the fourth fastest woman in the 100m butterfly this year. Should McKeon step onto the podium in seven events, it would make her the most decorated swimmer at a single Olympic Games. East Germany’s Kristin Otto holds the record with the six gold medals from Seoul 1988.
Ariarne Titmus Tasmanian-born Titmus sent ripples through the swimming world when she beat five-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky of the U.S. in the 400m freestyle at the 2019 world championships in Gwangju, South Korea. The 20-year-old prodigy surged past Ledecky in the final lap to touch first for a famous victory over one of the greatest swimmers of her generation. The defeat was Ledecky’s first since 2013. Ledecky revealed she had suffered from a stomach virus and scratched from the 200m and 1,500m freestyle events before bouncing back in the 800m freestyle to continue her reign in that event. Titmus added the 200m freestyle silver medal to signal her rise on the global stage. The two swimmers are set to meet in Tokyo for an enticing battle for the Olympic 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle titles that are still firmly in Ledecky’s hands. Ledecky’s vice-like grip on the 400m event seems to be withering while Titmus is gaining ground on the U.S. superstar. Titmus unleashed a blistering 3:56.90 at the Australian Olympic trials last month, less than half a second short of Ledecky’s world record from Rio 2016.
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