2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
Although Kai Taylor is no stranger to an elite international podium, the 20-year-old Australian swimmer will indeed be making his Olympic debut just days from now in Paris.
Taylor, who helped Australia earn men’s 4x100m free relay silver and 4x200m free relay bronze in Fukuoka last year, is pumped to represent the green and gold for the first time on the Olympic stage.
He’ll be following in his mom’s footsteps, as Taylor is the sun of Hayley Lewis, two-time Olympic medalist at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
Speaking from Australia’s second training camp before they head to Paris, Taylor said training has been ‘really hard’ but the freestyle ace is ‘happy with how it’s going.’
To help him prepare, Taylor conveyed he’s ‘talked to a lot of the guys here about their Olympic experience so they’ve helped me get a better understanding of what’s coming up.’
Although he concedes having earned an individual event berth would have been ideal, Taylor said, “relays for Australia have been such a huge part of our history, so being in a relay with those boys is just going to be amazing and I can’t wait to represent Australia.”
Taylor, who races for St. Peters Western domestically, placed 4th in the men’s 200m free at the Australian Olympic Trials last month, hitting 1:46.26. He’ll be joining Maximillian Giuliani, Tommy Neill and Elijah Winnington as the most likely foursome for the men’s 4x200m free relay hoping to improve upon a bronze medal finish 3 years ago in Tokyo.