Griffith’s Emma strikes gold at world swim titles

World champion 4x100m relay gold medallist Emma McKeon, smiling poolside
Bachelor of Public Health (Health Promotion) student Emma McKeon will make her Olympic debut at Rio.

The 2015 FINA world swimming championships are underway in Kazan, Russia, and Griffith University swimmers are in the medals.

Commonwealth Games champion Emma McKeon was part of the women’s 4x100m relay team that won gold ahead of the Netherlands and defending champions the United States.

The team of Emma, sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell and Emily Seebohm completed the event in 3:30.98, more than two seconds ahead of the silver medallists and three seconds ahead of the Americans.

Emma is studying a Bachelor of Public Health (Health Promotion) at Griffith. The world title continues her success at international level after she won four gold and two bronze medals at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

She is also one of Australia’s big medal chances looking ahead to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Fellow Griffith student Jess Ashwood won a world championship bronze medal in the individual 400m freestyle, swimming a personal best of 4:03.34. It’s Australia’s first 400m women’s freestyle world championship medal since Hayley Lewis won silver in Perth in 1991.

Jess is studying for a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Criminal Justice).

Griffith University has eight representatives on the Australian Dolphins world championship team. Joining Emma and Jess are Cameron McEvoy, David McKeon, Madi Wilson, Lorna Tonks, Mel Gorman and Jess Walker.

All are members of the Griffith Sports College.