Swimmer Kaylee McKeown edged closer to her own world record in the 100m backstroke at the New South Wales Championships on Saturday. She clocked the sixth-best time in history over the distance. 

The 22-year-old favourite to defend her Olympic title in Paris in 2024 touched the wall in 57.57 seconds, just 24 hundredths of a second off her own world record of 57.33, set a year ago in March 2023, when she also broke the 100m backstroke record within 24 hours of each other. 

She surpassed world record holder Mollie O'Callaghan (58.71) in the 200m freestyle at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. McKeown now holds the six fastest 100m backstroke times in history. She is a consummate specialist.

The Australian is the first woman to hold world records in all three backstroke distances. McKeown will be overwhelming favourite in several events at the Olympic Games. Her life is an example of overcoming adversity. 

After the pandemic, the swimmer went through a very difficult time, marked by the death of her father, to whom she was very close. Undeterred, she went on to become the greatest swimmer in history. Her Olympic results at Tokyo 2020 were unbeatable.

Sydney Olympic Park was also home to another Olympic champion, Ariarne Titmus. She won the 400m freestyle in 4:02.39, just ahead of Lani Pallister (4:02.65) and more than eight seconds ahead of Jamie Perkins, who finished third.

Like McKeown, Titmus will be the woman to beat in Paris as she arrives as the reigning world champion and world record holder. The Australians will have two rivals in American Katie Ledecky and young Canadian Summer McIntosh to dethrone them from the Olympic throne. 

The New South Wales State Championships, which conclude on Sunday 17 March, are a very important stage and a big test ahead of the Australian Olympic Trials in June.