Australia secured the women’s 4x100m freestyle title at the Paris Olympics on Saturday by swimming the second-fastest time in history, earning Emma McKeon her sixth Olympic gold medal.
The team, comprising Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, McKeon, and Meg Harris, finished with a time of 3 minutes and 28.92 seconds, outpacing the United States, who clocked in at 3:30.20, and China, who finished in 3:30.30.
Harris anchored the team with an impressive 51.94-second split, following a strong start by O’Callaghan. McKeon, standout performer since the Tokyo Olympics, participated in her final Games and now holds a total of 12 Olympic medals.
“Wow. I don’t keep track of that kind of stuff … it’s an honour really,” McKeon told Australian media. She underscored the team effort, including contributions from Bronte Campbell and Olivia Wunsch.
This victory marks the fourth consecutive Olympic gold for Australia in this event, with their time second only to their own world record of 3:27.96 set last year. Australia has held the world record since 2014 and has lowered it four times since.
The gold medal was particularly significant for Shayna Jack, who missed the Tokyo Olympics due to a contested doping ban.
“I already proved my redemption by coming here, so this is all fun and games for me, I’m just enjoying the experience,” Jack was quoted as saying by AFP.
Jack tested positive for the muscle growth agent ligandrol in June 2019, leading to a four-year ban despite her claims of innocence and contamination. Before the Tokyo Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport concluded that “on the balance of probabilities” Jack “did not intentionally ingest ligandrol,” but it was too late for her to join the 2021 team.
Reflecting on her journey, she said, “It’s a really special moment to stand on the podium with the other three girls, and represent the other girls from our heat swim. I’m really proud of myself and how far I’ve come, but I definitely missed that opportunity in 2021.”
The team, comprising Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, McKeon, and Meg Harris, finished with a time of 3 minutes and 28.92 seconds, outpacing the United States, who clocked in at 3:30.20, and China, who finished in 3:30.30.
Harris anchored the team with an impressive 51.94-second split, following a strong start by O’Callaghan. McKeon, standout performer since the Tokyo Olympics, participated in her final Games and now holds a total of 12 Olympic medals.
“Wow. I don’t keep track of that kind of stuff … it’s an honour really,” McKeon told Australian media. She underscored the team effort, including contributions from Bronte Campbell and Olivia Wunsch.
This victory marks the fourth consecutive Olympic gold for Australia in this event, with their time second only to their own world record of 3:27.96 set last year. Australia has held the world record since 2014 and has lowered it four times since.
The gold medal was particularly significant for Shayna Jack, who missed the Tokyo Olympics due to a contested doping ban.
“I already proved my redemption by coming here, so this is all fun and games for me, I’m just enjoying the experience,” Jack was quoted as saying by AFP.
Jack tested positive for the muscle growth agent ligandrol in June 2019, leading to a four-year ban despite her claims of innocence and contamination. Before the Tokyo Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport concluded that “on the balance of probabilities” Jack “did not intentionally ingest ligandrol,” but it was too late for her to join the 2021 team.
Reflecting on her journey, she said, “It’s a really special moment to stand on the podium with the other three girls, and represent the other girls from our heat swim. I’m really proud of myself and how far I’ve come, but I definitely missed that opportunity in 2021.”
