Commonwealth Games swim stars ready for ‘fun’ Duel in the Pool against US
Emma McKeon will spearhead Australia's team against the US in the Duel in the Pool. Photo: AAP
Emma McKeon and national teammates will ride the wave of their Commonwealth Games success when they clash with swimming rivals, the United States, in a head-to-head event in Sydney.
Superstar McKeon collected six gold medals, a silver and a bronze in Birmingham, while Australia topped the medal table with 25 of a possible 52 swimming golds, and 65 of the 156 medals in the pool.
McKeon is feeling the benefits of three months spent out of the pool earlier this year and skipping the world championships, and expects to still be near her peak as she spearheads Australia’s team in the rebirth of the event between the two superpowers.
“I’m feeling pretty fresh,” McKeon said. “This will be something fun. Doing things like this keeps it fresh and exciting.
.@heldilox is ready for #DuelInThePool, are you?!
Listen to the latest episode of Kick Set podcast to hear about his experience at Worlds and outlook on Duel in the Pool.
🎧: https://t.co/yQ1nsyerZL pic.twitter.com/gTZ6pgJpCY
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) August 17, 2022
“Being able to compete in a whole different way with two high-level teams against each other will be exciting.
“But Paris (Olympic Games in 2024) is the main driver. To keep improving, that’s what motivates me every day in training.”
The Duel in the Pool returns to Sydney for the first time since 2007 with a mix of traditional and experimental events, starting with an open water relay at Bondi Beach on Friday.
Duel in the Pool Will Feature Traditional Events, Along With Several Oddball Races (Full Event List) – https://t.co/UMtK1fyoLE pic.twitter.com/ZdtiRrCNF5
— Swimming World (@SwimmingWorld) August 17, 2022
The meet then moves to two nights of fierce competition at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Saturday and Sunday.
Each team is made up of 30 swimmers who will race for pride as much as points that will decide the overall winner of the event.
He may have won 3 gold medals at #Tokyo2020 but Will Martin is staying humble.
We caught up with Will ahead of Duel in the Pool this weekend, where he'll be 1 of 4 @DolphinsAUS #ParaSwimming stars taking on @TeamUSA: https://t.co/sh90VhBruB@SwimmingAUS @USASwimming pic.twitter.com/ULsGCD1hOe
— AUS Paralympic Team (@AUSParalympics) August 18, 2022
Australia is close to full strength with a squad that includes McKeon, Kaylee McKeown and rising star Mollie O’Callaghan, although Ariarne Titmus and Kyle Chalmers were unavailable.
Zac Stubblety-Cook will use the event to cap-off a remarkable 12 months in which he claimed the Olympic, Commonwealth Games and world championship 200m breaststroke titles.
‘‘I’m not racing my pet event so it will be a bit of a different race, but that makes it exciting to just go and have a crack,’’ Stubblety-Cook said.
‘‘I wish there was a 200 breaststroke but it is what it is, and I can use the event to practise for the 100.’’
Duel In The Pool is a unique racing program that sees the best Australian and American swimmers go head to head!
Dive into all the action live on @7plus from 7pm this Saturday and Sunday! pic.twitter.com/VQagYaivul
— 7Sport (@7Sport) August 18, 2022
The United States will be without legend Katie Ledecky but its line-up includes top emerging talent as well as Olympians like Ryan Held, who was part of the team that won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the world championships.
Held also won gold in the marquee relay event at the 2016 Olympics and expects another close contest in the race that sparked the Australia and United States swimming rivalry.
‘‘That’s the event we pride the most,’’ Held said.
‘‘Whenever we select teams, that’s the first priority. We pick the top four 100 freestylers, then we’ll do the individual events.
‘‘To win that will be huge. We really want to win that.’’