Canadian swimmer Mac Neil withdraws from 100m freestyle semis after securing final spot | CBC Sports

Maggie Mac Neil, a 2023 Pan Am champion in the women’s 100-metre freestyle, has pulled out of the Olympic semifinals after securing the 16th and final qualifying spot. She is turning her attention to Saturday’s 100 medley relay, CBC Sports has learned.

The London, Ont., native placed fourth in her preliminary heat in 54.16 seconds, more than a second behind winner and world record holder Sarah Sjoestroem (52.99).

Mac Neil finished 50-100ths of a second ahead of Barbora Seemanova of the Czech Republic to book a spot in the 3:25 p.m. ET semifinals at La Defense Arena in Nanterre, France.

“Before this year, I would have never imagined I would compete in a freestyle event internationally,” Mac Neil wrote in an Instagrom post on Tuesday. “I have decided to scratch tonight’s semifinal to get ready for some relay fun. Can’t wait.”

The 24-year-old Mac Neil did not race the 100 free in her 2021 Olympic debut in Tokyo but was a member of the 100 free relay team that won at last year’s Pan Am Games and earned 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze.

On Sunday, she missed a chance to become the first repeat Olympic gold medallist in the women’s 100 butterfly, placing fifth.

WATCH l Mac Neil 5th place in women’s 100m butterfly:

Mac Neil also plans to race the women’s 100 medley relay in Paris on Saturday.

She told CBC Sports in February this would be her final Olympic Games. Mac Neil had planned to leave competitive swimming after Tokyo but felt she missed opportunities in the pool during the COVID-19 pandemic and opted to extend her career.

Kharun fastest by over 1 second

Montreal’s Ilya Kharun surged over the final 50 metres of the men’s 200 butterfly to win the second of four heats in one minute 54.06 seconds.

The 19-year-old touched the wall more than a second faster than his closest competitor, Poland’s Michal Chmielewski (1:55.28).

“He had complete control [of the race] and that is what you want to do in a preliminary,” said CBC Sports analyst Brittany MacLean. “Athletes sometimes need to [shake the] cobwebs through that first race but he attacked it.”

Kharun, in his first Olympic appearance, qualified second behind Hungary’s Kristof Milak (1:53.92) for Tuesday’s semifinals at 2:42 p.m.

“I want to be with the leaders,” Kharun told CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux. “I’m going for a top spot [medal] and excited to show everyone what I can do.”

The Canadian was red-shirted this season, meaning he sat out his sophomore year at Arizona State University to recovery from injury and train for the Olympics. Kharun is guided by Bob Bowman, who famously helped American Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic gold medals.

“He’s been very honest that he wants to get on that international podium,” MacLean said of Kharun.

Kharun clocked an Olympic qualifying time of 1:54.41, less than a second shy of his 1:53.83 Canadian record from last summer when he was fourth at the world aquatics championships.

Liendo qualifies 10th for men’s 100m free semis

Meanwhile, four-time world championship medallist Josh Liendo of Toronto will race in the men’s 100 freestyle semifinals at 2:30 p.m.

He stopped the clock in 48.34 seconds for third in his heat and tied for 10th overall with Andrej Barna of Serbia among the 16 to advance.

Swimming in Lane 6, the 21-year-old Liendo put forth a strong opening 15 metres and led Guilherme Santos of Brazil by 1-100th of a second at the halfway mark.

“He looked so strong,” said MacLean. “It was such a close race.”

Liendo didn’t qualify for the 2021 Olympic final in Tokyo and placed 14th.

“Every year he gains experience,” MacLean said. “He’s been to an Olympics before and medalled at the world championships. This is his moment to take it to the next stage.”

Calgary’s Yuri Kisil (49.06) was 29th in Tuesday’s heat and is scheduled to race the 100 medley relay on Saturday. The 28-year-old might also compete in Friday’s mixed 100 medley relay.

China’s Pan Zhanle, who holds the world (46.80) and Olympic (46.92) records, just squeezed into the semifinals. He finished tied for 13th with two others after clocking 48.40.

Relay men nearly 4 seconds shy of making final

The Canadian men’s 4×200 free relay team, considered by some to be a medal threat in Paris, came up short in the semifinals.

Patrick Hussey (Beaconsfield Que., Alex Axon (Newmarket, Ont.), Victoria’s Jeremy Bagshaw and Calgary’s Lorne Wigginton clocked 7:10.67 for 14th spot, nearly four seconds behind Israel (7:08.43) for the eighth and final spot for the eight-team final at 4:01 p.m.

Canada’s Olympic qualifying time was 7:10.67.

“I think it’ll be a fight to get into the final,” Wigginton told the Calgary Herald recently. “This is the first time we’ve had this relay at the Olympics since 2012. So even just being here on this team is kind of a big deal for Canada.

“We really have nothing to lose. No one’s expecting us to do anything big. So we’re kind of swimming with no pressure.”