Adelaide (Australia) (AFP)
19-year-old Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown broke the world record in the 100-meter backstroke during her country's Olympic qualifiers on Sunday in Adelaide, covering the distance in 57 seconds 45 / 100th.
Very fit since the start of the season, McKeown has improved the best global mark, held since 2019 by her American rival of the same age Regan Smith, by twelve hundredths.
She dedicated her performance to her father, who died last year.
"I can't believe it. I just wanted to come and get rid of my dark thoughts," said the swimmer out of the pool in tears.
"It's been a long year for me and my family. It's been 10 months since my father died. To have this event behind me and to achieve this performance, I think he would have been very proud," he said. -She keeps.
The Australian is more than ever a contender for many Olympic medals this summer in Tokyo, in the 100-meter backstroke but also in the 200-meter backstroke or the 200-meter medley.
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Experienced Emily Seebohm, second in the race in 58 seconds 59 / 100th, also landed her ticket to what will be her fourth Games.
© 2021 AFP