I’m at the Aquatics Centre for the second night of heats at Tokyo 2020. The scheduling is unusual – typically swim meets hold heats in the morning and medals races at night – but American broadcasters insisted that the finals in Tokyo be raced in the morning during US primetime (to the annoyance of many, including US swimmers, who were complaining earlier today).
First up we have the women’s 100m backstroke heats. Australia’s Kaylee McKeown is the swimmer to beat. We then move to the men’s 200m freestyle, the women’s 100m breaststroke (keep an eye out for American defending champion Lilly King) and the men’s 100m backstroke.
The main event of the night is the women’s 400m freestyle – exhibit A in the week long duel between American queen of the pool Katie Ledecky and her young Australian rival Ariarne Titmus. The action will conclude with the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
