Australian swimming superstar Kaylee McKeown will race for 200m backstroke gold against a top rival who appeared to escape disqualification from their semi-final at the Olympics.
Just days after Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank was disqualified from the men’s event for failing to surface within 15m of the start, compatriot Honey Osrin narrowly avoided the same fate in the women’s despite seemingly going beyond the crucial marker.
Live footage from a low angle looked to show the 21-year-old’s red cap appear above the water just after 15m before she turned in third position, and overhead vision suggested the issue was beyond doubt.
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Osrin briefly hit the front during the third lap and set a new personal best as she finished second behind McKeown.
But unlike Greenbank, Osrin did not face a review and is listed as having qualified third fastest for Friday night’s final (Saturday morning AEST).
World Aquatics regulations specify swimmers are permitted to be submerged “for a distance of not more than 15 metres after the start” but “by that point the head must have broken the surface”.
Footage of Osrin’s surface quickly circulated on social media as experts and viewers questioned why it was not formally investigated.
“How did Lane 3 not get DQ’d here?” University of Tampa assistant swim coach Phil Murray wrote.
Sports Illustrated veteran journalist Pat Forde said: “Why do we even have 15m judges if they’re going to let something this blatant slide? Honey Osrin is the third seed for the final in this. She should be DQ’d.”
McKeown was into her fourth stroke by the time Osrin had emerged to begin her first.
But even the Australian herself pushed up against the limit with her start, as noted by Australian swimming greats in commentary.
“Timed to perfection, just up before that 15m mark,” Giaan Rooney said on Nine.
Ian Thorpe added: “Isn’t it? I was like ‘oh’. Completely safe, nothing to worry about there.”
McKeown is bidding to become the first woman to win back-to-back gold medals in both the 100m and 200m backstroke.
The 23-year-old Queenslander successfully defended her title over the shorter distance earlier this week, and also won gold in the 4x100m medley relay.
Osrin was all smiles after the semi-final and said her new PB of 2:07.84 was a monkey off the back heading into the final.
“I’ve definitely been working towards a 2.07 or 2.06,” she said.
“I’m happy to have finally broken through that barrier. I’m really happy.”
France’s Emma Terebo stood to be promoted into the final if Osrin had been disqualified.
Two days ago Greenbank was distraught to have been disqualified as he chased another medal in the men’s 200m backstroke, having won bronze in Tokyo three years ago.
“I don’t know what to say, absolutely gutted. It’s really annoying, I feel like I’m in good form,” the 26-year-old said.
Thorpe said it was an unforgivable mistake.
“It wasn’t just a little bit, it was a significant amount past (the 15m marker),” he said in commentary.
“That is well past that mark and there is no need for that in a 200m. Perhaps, in a 50m race you might take the chance, but in a 200m there is no benefit.
“You can see how devastated he is after the race.”