Shayna Jack reckons she’s already won her quest for world championship redemption, regardless of the result of her individual swim.
Jack recorded a personal best in the women’s 50 metres freestyle at the world titles in Japan on Saturday.
The Australian is second-fastest through the heats, her slick 24.02 seconds bettering her previous benchmark of 24.14.
Jack’s past two world hampionships have been cruelled by a drugs ban and a freak training accident.
But in Fukuoka she has already collected two gold medals in world-record times in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relays, plus silver in the mixed 4x100m medley relay.
“It’s amazing and this morning to come away with a pb, I have already won in my books,” Jack said.
Jack was rubbed out of the 2019 world championships after testing positive to the banned substance Ligandrol about three weeks before the titles.
Her four-year ban was reduced to two years on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which found she did not knowingly ingest the substance.
At last year’s world titles in Budapest, Jack won gold and silver relay medals but withdrew from individual events after breaking a hand when it was entangled in another swimmer’s suit in the warm-up pool.
“I am just really trying to enjoy this meet,” she said.
“Last year I didn’t even get through to my 50 free or 100 free.
“Today I just wanted to come in with a smile on my face and do the best I can.
“I am feeling good and obviously the results at the start of the week have definitely helped build that confidence.
“It’s always tough doing an eight-day meet for the 50 free to be on the last two days.
“It’s one of those ones you just want to stay up for and make sure you’re ready to execute and that is what I did this morning.”
Jack’s compatriot Emma McKeon (24.69) was ranked eighth in advancing to the Saturday night semis.
Australia’s mixed 4x100m freestyle relay team of Flynn Southam, Jack Cartwright, Madi Wilson and Meg Harris clocked 3:21.88 to top times in the heats.
Sam Short cruised into the men’s 1500m freestyle medal race, ranked sixth after touching in 14:53.38 in his heat.
In the men’s 50m backstroke, Isaac Cooper (24.69) was equal sixth-quickest into the semi-finals but teammate Abbey Harkin failed to progress in the women’s 50m breaststroke after finishing in 31.63 in her heat.