In case you’re just joining us, here’s what the program looks like tonight:
Photo The Sydney Morning Herald
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9.09pm
Hall on track for fifth Paralympics
Brenden Hall (hopefully) books his spot for Paris 2024 with a swim that’s almost four seconds clear of his nearest competitor.
The qualifying time is good, and if the selectors go his way it will be his fifth Paralympic Games.
He’s been part of the Dolphins squad for the past 17 years, but Hall said he’s “still loving every minute of it” and he “still had a little bit of fight left”.
9.02pm
Watch: Pallister emotional after booking ticket to Paris
8.58pm
Kempy’s view: the race you can’t miss on night one
8.54pm
‘You still have doubts’: McKeon’s message to young swimmers
8.50pm
McKeon just snags victory in 100m butterflyBy Emma Kemp
Emma McKeon, of four golds and three bronze in Tokyo fame, has booked her spot at a third Olympics, which she has already said will be her last.
She does it in 56.85, which is more than enough to qualify. This was always going to be a tight race, and there was only half a body length between first and last. But the interesting bit about it is that Perkins, who swam a 57.10 in her heat this morning, has finished second but in 57.33.
Photo The Sydney Morning Herald
That time tonight is not under the Swimming Australia qualifying benchmark of 57.17, so selectors will have a bit of thinking to do.
8.42pm
Watch: Titmus on the cusp of world record
8.40pm
Preview: women’s 100m butterflyBy Tom Decent
Emma McKeon should cruise to victory, having won a bronze medal in this event in Tokyo to go with fourth place at last year’s world championships.
We’re not sure exactly what shape McKeon is in, so this should give us a good gauge before her 50m and 100 freestyle events later in the program.
Many thought Brianna Throssell would be a lock for second place here but Alex Perkins’ heat swim of 57.1 certainly raised a few eyebrows this morning.
Brianna Throssell in the 100m butterfly heats.Credit: Getty
8.39pm
‘Do it with a smile’: Williamson
8.36pm
Williamson and Yong join list of Paris-bound athletesBy Emma Kemp
Zac Stubblety-Cook is not known for fast starts. Williamson, who won the 50m breaststroke at the world champs in Doha in February, very much is.
And Williamson, in lane four, has a strong lead before he’s even turned after the first 50. Stubblety-Cook, the 200m specialist, finishes well and makes up some of the distance, but it’s Joshua Yong who pips him for second. A moment for Williamson, who is absolutely flying. Clocked a PB of 58.95 seconds in his heat and bettered it with 58.80.
8.26pm
Preview: men’s 100m breaststrokeBy Tom Decent
Sam Williamson shot the lights out this morning with a big personal best of 58.95, more than a second clear of Joshua Yong (1:00.12).
That bodes well for Australia’s 4x100m medley relay team. If Williamson replicates that, he’ll win.
Zac Stubblety-Cook will be in the mix but needs to drop a personal best (it’s 59.51 at the moment). Qualifying is 59.49, so Williamson might be the only one to get through.
Samuel Williamson in the heats earlier today.Credit: Getty
