The Dolphins have put the writing on the wall for a lucrative first day of finals in the Olympic pool, with Brendon Smith, Elijah Winnington, Jack McLoughlin and the women’s 4×100-metre freestyle relay team all major podium hopes at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

And Emma McKeon has continued her blistering form to co-lead the field in the 100-metre butterfly as she begins a daunting campaign in which she could take home as many as seven medals.

Emma McKeon flew through the water in Tokyo on Saturday night.Credit:Getty Images

Smith broke his own Australian record for the 400-metre individual medley, while Winnington and McLoughlin did enough to book spots in the 400-metre freestyle final, with both looking as if they had something in the locker for the final. The relay team cruised into lane four and still have top guns McKeon and Cate Campbell to feature.

The night began on a brilliant note for the Australians as Smith unleashed a monster freestyle leg to power over the top of the field in the final heat and secure himself lane four in the final.

Smith broke the Australian record at trials and lowered it again on Saturday night, stopping the clock at 4:09.27 to continue his remarkable late run towards what could be an Olympic medal. Second quickest was Kiwi Lewis Clareburt, with American Chase Kalisz third and probably the gold medal favourite.

For most watching, Smith was a bolt from the blue. Those familiar with Smith and his extraordinarily aquatic family are less surprised.

Brendon Smith may have surprised some.Credit:AP

The Smith family, from the Melbourne suburb of Donvale, spends as much of its time submerged as on dry land. Brendon’s dad Peter represented Australia in surf lifesaving, his mum Anissa was an accomplished open water swimmer and his three sisters are all swimming mad, with Mikayla and Reidel competing at the Olympic trials and Nerisa coaching at a Melbourne school.

For two generations, the family has been a fixture at Nunawading, the power club of Melbourne where Smith trains with coach Wayne Lawes. After his race, Smith said he was happy with the way he stormed home.

“It’s something me and my coach Wayne really work on, trying to finish out your races well. It is something I have always done. I was really happy how I was able to do that tonight,” Smith said.

Winnington and McLoughlin were the top two in the world this year but had to work for their spot in the final on account of a fast second heat, where top qualifier Henning Muhlleitner from Germany blasted a 3:43.67. That heat contained the three fastest men, with the Australian pair equal fourth.

But their form this year suggests they can sharply improve on their 3:45.20 and get right among the medal mix. Neither spoke after their race, instead heading straight to the warm-down pool to prepare for their morning final on Sunday.

McKeon looked sensational as she led the qualifying for the 100-metre butterfly semi-finals. McKeon dead-heated with Zhang Yufei in a slick 55.82 seconds but was finishing over the top of her rival to continue her career-best form.

It was a new Australian record and she did it with a good deal in hand. She kicked strong off the turn, lifted the stroke rate late and was soaring above the water.

The quartet of Mollie O’Callaghan, Meg Harris, Madi Wilson and Bronte Campbell put the writing on the wall to romp in their heat. Two will drop out as McKeon and Cate Campbell join the fray, with Madi Wilson and O’Callaghan the potential omissions given the final splits.

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