Kaylee McKeown 'sharpening the axe' for Paris assault after hat-trick of near misses (2024)

Kaylee McKeown was so, so close. Again.

So close to igniting the Brisbane Aquatic Centre the same way that Ariarne Titmus did on night three.

So close to bettering her own world mark and laying down the challenge to her rivals in Paris next month in the best possible way.

So close.

On night one, McKeown was just 0.51 seconds behind the long-standing world record of Katinka Hosszu in the 200m medley.

On night two, she was just 0.08 seconds outside her own 100m backstroke mark.

Then, on Thursday night, McKeown was again a fraction off, just 0.16 seconds behind her 200m world record.

All three were among the top four fastest times in history.

"No, it doesn't bother me at all," McKeown said of missing the world record.

"To be honest with you, I'm just happy to still be sitting around that time.

"There's not many people in the world who are doing that at the moment.

"There's one that I can think of and she's about to get up and race. So I'm nervous to see what she does. But I'm excited for the battle that we will have in Paris."

McKeown is speaking about American Regan Smith, with whom she shares 17 of the 20 fastest times in history.

ABC Sport will be live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics from July 27 (Australian time).

Smith competes in Indianapolis next week for a spot on the US Olympic team.

McKeown's mind will be focused on that, but also improving on her own performances.

Because that's the terrifying thing: There is room for improvement.

McKeown, who has nudged the world record to the point of it wobbling precariously on the mantelpiece three times in three different events already this week, can be faster.

Her coach Michael Bohl told media on Wednesday that McKeown was "disappointed with the execution" of her 100m swim.

"The first 50 was around about where we thought she should be, but just the way she did it was just a little rushed," he said.

"When you sit down and examine why, it's very easy to see.

"So we're just gonna make those little adjustments and it's a good time to learn those things here and make those mistakes here on the road to Paris."

"This is sort of about sharpening the axe, I think, this meet, isn't it?

"You are trying to get yourself ready for what's ahead at the Olympics."

Part of that will be learning to control her nerves and emotions.

McKeown herself has admitted to being nervous ahead of these trials.

"Yeah. I mean, who wouldn't be?'" she said.

"You're getting up in front of the crowd, you're putting your heart on the line, you've done months' worth of hard training, you get up and try get yourself onto the team and you just want to do yourself proud.

"And with that comes nerves, unfortunately."

But nerves are something Bohl anticipates.

They're prevalent here in Brisbane and will be there in Paris as well.

It's part of the reason why Bohl encouraged her to enter the 200m freestyle on Wednesday morning.

"She wasn't all that keen," he joked.

"I had to grab her by the ear and pull her behind the block."

The rationale behind forcing McKeown into the event was sound, even if she had no intention of racing the final had she made it.

"It's just another race at a high level," Bohl explained.

"You know, you don't get the chance to race in this pressure environment, which is as close as you get to the Olympics.

"You just don't get those chances at the state titles, so I think just exposing yourself to that the next day after the swim [on Tuesday] night, it's a good thing to do."

With a packed programme — all things going well McKeown said she will race nine times in Paris — having that added experience will do her no harm at all.

"I think it's handling the environment," Bohl said.

"You know, we always talk about the Olympics being that unpredictable environment.

"There's so much going on, it's chaotic and I think the people that ... keep the calmest and level-headed when that situation's around you, are the people that get the best of themselves there.

"That's half the battle in my mind.

"Just that mental challenge. It's not the physical challenge. It's more the mental challenge of being in that environment where everyone knows it's once every four years.

"It's difficult. It's not easy to get those great results and I think she would have learned a lot from the last Olympics she competed in.

"She was much younger then and less experienced. She's more experienced now and you know she's gonna be learning from what's happening here."

She certainly is learning. All the time.

With every stroke she takes down the pool, the 22-year-old is gaining the type of knowledge that will be expected to bring her joy in Paris — and joy is what she is hoping to achieve.

"I just want to enjoy this Olympics," McKeown said.

Ominously, she has done this without a proper taper.

"I've done the work, I've done the training," McKeown said.

"I've just got to really actually taper for this next meet, so I'm excited for that."