Emma McKeon Hits Australian, Oceanian, Commonwealth 100 Fly Records – 55.82

2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

• When: Pool swimming: Saturday, July 24 – Sunday, August 1, 2021
  • Open Water swimming: Wednesday, August 4 – Thursday, August 5, 2021
• Where: Olympic Aquatics Centre / Tokyo, Japan
• Heats: 7 PM / Semifinals & Finals: 10:30 AM (Local time)
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During the women’s 100 butterfly prelims during day 1 of the Tokyo 2020 Games, Emma McKeon managed to deliver a new Australian, Oceanian, and Commonwealth record of 55.82.

McKeon held the previous Australian and Oceanian marks at a 55.93 which she swam at the 2021 Australian Olympic Trials for the gold medal. The Commonwealth record, however, was previously held by Maggie MacNeil who posted a 55.83 2 years ago to take gold at the 2019 World Championships.

Split Comparison

While she’s a veteran for Australia at this point, Emma McKeon seems to be making quite a sensational year, having qualified to race the 50,100, and 200 freestyle, along with the 100 butterfly at the Olympic Games. McKeon decided, however, to drop the 200 free from her individual lineup so as to focus on the sprints.

McKeon holds a number of major international medals including Olympic bronze in the 200 free in 2016 and 2019 World Championships bronze in the 100 butterfly but has yet to reach the Olympic podium in a butterfly event. McKeon did top the 100 butterfly podium, however, at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in her home country with a 56.78 which is nearly a second slower than her newly minted Australian record.

McKeon is on her way now to her first Tokyo semi-final and has advanced as the co-top seed alongside China’s Zhang Yufei, having both hit a 55.82. Those 55s for Yufei and McKeon represented the only swims under 56 seconds with 2016 Champion and current world record holder Sarah Sjostrom hitting a 56.18 for third overall. American teen Torri Huske followed in a 56.29 while 2019 World Champion Maggie MacNeil was a 56.55 for 5th place heading into the second round. McKeon’s fellow Australian entrant in the women’s 100 butterfly Brianna Throssell also qualified for a second swim here, notching a 58.08 for 16th.

Tokyo 2020 Women’s 100 Butterfly Prelims – Top 16

1. Zhang Yufei (CHN) / Emma McKeon (AUS), 55.82
2. –
3. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 56.18
4. Torri Huske (USA), 56.29
5. Maggie MacNeil (CAN), 56.55
6. Louise Hansson (SWE), 56.97
7. Anastasiya Shkurdai (BLR), 56.99
8. Marie Wattel (FRA), 57.08
9. Elena di Liddo (ITA), 57.41
10. Claire Curzan (USA), 57.49
11. Katerine Savard (CAN), 57.51
12. Ilaria Bianchi (ITA), 57.70
13. Anna Ntountounaki (GRE), 57.75
14. Arina Surkova (ROC), 58.02
15. Svetlana Chimrova (ROC), 58.04
16. Brianna Throssell (AUS), 58.08