IAS Graduate receives OAM
HANDED one of Australia’s top honors, Olympian and IAS Graduate Emma McKeon has declared an individual gold in Tokyo in 2020 as her ultimate goal.
McKeon was the nation’s most successful athlete in Rio, winning a gold in the 4x100m relay, as well as two silvers and a bronze.
On Thursday, she was recognized for her success by receiving the Order of Australia Medal.
The 22-year-old spent three months out of the water after the Games last year, the longest break from training since she started taking swimming seriously.
Returning in her first competitive event in Victoria last week, McKeon is now building towards the Australian titles in April, to qualify for the world championships in Budapest in July.
In a heavy training phase at her base in Brisbane, McKeon said she is already committed to the four-year cycle which will end at the Tokyo Games.
“I definitely want to go, it’s the long-term goal,” she said.
“At this stage, it’s not something you think about or really work towards, but I definitely want to keep going for another four years. At the moment, it’s just about getting the fitness back up for the trials.” McKeon made a major international breakthrough in 2014 at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, winning six medals, including four gold.
Next year the Commonwealth Games are just down the road from training, on the Gold Coast, providing another major incentive.
“As much as I love travelling, it’s a big motivation to do well next year when it’s close to my base here,” she said.
McKeon became an Olympic gold winner when she teamed up with Cate and Bronte Campbell and Brittany Elmslie, to set a new world record time in the 4x100m relay.
Claiming silver in the 4x100m medley and 4x200m freestyle relays, McKeon’s finest individual swim came when she snared bronze in the 200m freestyle, behind two of the superstars of the sport in American Katie Ledecky and Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom.
“I watched the replay recently and I still get nervous before it starts, even though I know I won bronze,” she said.
The Wollongong product admits winning an Order of Australia is surreal, as part of this year’s Australia Day honors, her medal to sit nicely alongside her Olympics achievements.
“It’s pretty special, it’s not really something you ever think about having,” she said.
“But when I got the email, I was pretty excited.”
First Published in the Illawarra Mercury
Poort named National Open Water Champion
Poort was the first Australian home in 1:57.48, taking his Australian Open 10km title tally to four, using his power to get over the top of the field as the pack fought for a top four finish and a chance at World Championship selection
After capturing the hearts of the nation with his emphatic swim in the Men’s 10km event at last year’s Rio Olympics Poort is shaping up to be a real pioneer in Australian Open Water Swimming.
The 22-year-old’s smart swimming style saw him claim victory in a sprint to the finish over up and comer, Brazier (1:49.30) with Kai Edwards the third Aussie home in 1:57.50, and Lachlan Colquhoun fourth with a time of 1:57.52.
The men and women will now switch their attention to the open 5km events on Sunday, with straight selection onto the World Championship team up for grabs with a top two finish in Brighton.
First Published on the Swimming Australia Website
Caleb Ewan claims fourth stage win in Tour Down Under.
IAS Graduate & ORICA-SCOTT Cyclist Caleb Ewan, has taken out his fourth win on the final stage and won the iiNet Sprinters Jersey for the 2017 Cycling, Tour Down Under.
After a stellar performance like we have seen over the past 2 weeks, we might just see him ride in the Le Tour de France this year later this year.
