Australian swimmers face up to brutal reality in toughest ever Olympic qualifying bid | Nicole Jeffery

Coach Michael Bohl is delivering a stark message to Australia’s most decorated Olympian, Emma McKeon, as June’s Paris Olympic trials approach.

The message has to be hard, because the reality is brutal – the women’s 100m freestyle is shaping up to be the toughest Olympic qualifying event for any Australian, in any sport, in history.

At the Australian championships on Thursday night on the Gold Coast, a prelude to the Olympic trials in eight weeks’ time, O’Callaghan won in 52.27s, just 0.19s outside her best, from Harris in a personal best of 52.59s, with McKeon third in 53.09s.

The next four may win selection for the 4x100m freestyle relay, where the Australian women will be the overwhelming favourites to claim a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Former world record-holder Cate Campbell sees the irony in the fact that she will have to hold back the wave she has largely created in order to compete in the 100m at her fifth Olympics.

“I inherited [Australia’s sprinting legacy] from Libby Trickett and Jodie Henry and Alice Mills and I feel like I’ve helped drive the women’s 100m freestyle globally.