Using DQ to drive for gold

Kaylee McKeown, the Redcliffe-born former Caboolture resident, will tonight use the disappointment of disqualification to drive for World Championship gold.

McKeown, whose junior swimming career was with Australian Crawl in Burpengary, has qualified second fastest for the 100m backstroke final in Japan this evening.

The 22-year-old world record holder posted 58.48 seconds in Monday’s semi-final just behind great rival American Regan Smith (58.33).

It follows McKeown’s DQ from the 200m individual medley on Sunday for what judges said was a stroke violation on transition from backstroke to breaststroke.

Swimming Australia's protest, led by head coach Rohan Taylor, was rejected. “I disagree, 100 per cent,” Taylor said of the verdict.

McKeown, who went to St Paul’s Lutheran Primary School in Caboolture, admitted she “had a bit of a cry”.

"But it's sport and it's what happens in sport,” she said. "Unfortunately, some people just get the bad hand and I got dealt that bad hand.

"It's just a matter of trying to flip it into a positive."

In the men's 800m freestyle today, ex-Albany Creek Swim Club member Sam Short cruised into tomorrow's final when he will chase a second world title.

The 19-year-old, who won the 400m freestyle on Monday, touched in 7 minutes 40.90 seconds in his heat over the longer distance.

Australia missed the Monday night medals in Fukuoka, after feasting on four of five golds on offer on the opening night.

Emma McKeon and Brianna Throssell finished fourth and seventh respectively in the 100m butterfly final.

McKeon (56.88 seconds) and Throssell (57.34) were outpaced by Chinese winner Yufei Zhang (56.12).

Yufei's triumph was China's second in a row, following Haiyang Qin's win in the men's 100m breaststroke, a medal race with no Australian swimmer.