Olivia Wunsch Rips 52.52 SCM 100 Free As #2 Aussie 17-Yr-Old In History

2023 KNOX PYMBLE SC INVITATIONAL (NEW SOUTH WALES)

  • Saturday, August 12th & Sunday, August 13th
  • Pymble Ladies College Aquatic Centre, New South Wales, Australia
  • SCM (25m)
  • Results – Meet Mobile: KPSC Invitational

We reported how the Queensland Short Course Championships concluded yesterday while a smaller meet, the Knox Pymble Swim Club Invitational, also wrapped up from Australia.

Taking place at Pymble Ladies College Aquatic Centre in New South Wales, Australia, the KPSC Invitational saw 17-year-old Olivia Wunsch put up an eye-catching performance in short course.

Wunsch took on the 100m freestyle where the teen logged a new personal best of 52.52 (splits not available at the time of publishing). The Carlisle athlete’s performance hacked over half a second off of her previous career-quickest result of 53.29 from last month’s New South Wales Metro SC Championships.

Wunsch’s 52.52 performance now renders her Auastralia’s 2nd-swiftest 17-year-old girl in history and just the 2nd sub-53-second performer. Only Olympic champion Emma McKeon has put up a quicker swim at that age.

All-Time Australian 17-Year-Old Girl SCM 100 Freestyle Performers

  1. Emma McKeon 52.41, 2011
  2. Olivia Wunsch 52.52, 2023
  3. Emily Seebohm 53.05, 2009
  4. Shayna Jack 53.77, 2016
  5. Gabriella Peiniger 53.79, 2019
  6. Gemma Cooney 53.95, 2017
  7. Alice Mills 54.15, 2003
  8. Bronte Job 54.25 2020
  9. Chelsea Gillett 54.26 2014
  10. Ami Matsuo 54.49 2014

As a 17-year-old Wunsch already ranks as Australia’s 6th-fastest for her age in the SCM 50 free (24.69) and the 2nd-fastest for her age in the SCM 100 fly (56.76).

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Dan Foster
8 months ago

I always love seeing Alice Mills name. Our daughter swam against her for 4-5 years.

flicker
8 months ago

for a bit of extra context Mollie holds the 16 year old age record at 52.48

kevin
8 months ago

She came 6th at the world champs trials in the 100 final at 16 and everybody thought wow . I will say it now she will be our next superstar . The progression to Paris will be alarming

Miss M
Reply to  kevin
8 months ago

She was 8th in the final, but I agree with your sentiment!

carlo
Reply to  kevin
8 months ago

I think her coach should prioritize the butterfly for her. Australia desperately needs a butterflier post-Paris and post-Emma McKeon.

Nick the biased Aussie
Reply to  carlo
8 months ago

I wouldn’t say desperate. There we 4 women’s under the QT at worlds trials, behind Emma and Brianna were Alexandria Perkins and Lily Price. 57.5/57.7 isn’t at Emma’s level but they are showing consistent improvement.

stefe
Reply to  carlo
8 months ago

Desperate??? I’d hate to describe the US Sprint Free issues

stefe
Reply to  kevin
8 months ago

She’s stride for stride with Mollie at the same age. We know how that panned out.

Tomek
8 months ago

For comparison, her time would rank her 17 fastest female all-time in USA. Not too bad for 17 year old.

Stefe
Reply to  Tomek
8 months ago

How did that go for the women Melbourne, Fukuoka and Tokyo?

Stefe
Reply to  Tomek
8 months ago

Would love to see this table, you are referring to

Sub13
Reply to  Stefe
8 months ago

They’re saying she would be the 17th fastest American ever, not the 17th fastest American 17 year old. She also ranks as 12th fastest Australian ever with this swim.

Southerly Buster
8 months ago

Olivia is making great progress this year. And being #2 in 100 fly SCM for her age is a good sign. Australia will need a new competitive 100 Butterflyer to emerge soon to keep our medley relay in the gold medal hunt.

Nick the biased Aussie
Reply to  Southerly Buster
8 months ago

Lily Price and Alexandria Perkins also placed well to follow on from McKeon/Throssell in the 100 fly

bubo
8 months ago

USA can’t catch a break lol

zThomas
8 months ago

This is a great swim but so everyone is clear it was done in 25M pool (I know it says so in the article, but some people go straight to the comments section!)

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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