Article by Jackson Barrett, courtesy The West Australian.
A humble Kaylee McKeown has declared there is still more to come in one of Australia’s finest swimming careers and said “not in a million years” did she dream of becoming a five-time gold medallist.
After defending her 200m backstroke crown to complete an historic double-double just days after winning back-to-back 100m titles as well, McKeown brushed aside claims she is our greatest swimmer of all time.
But her triumph on Saturday morning (AWST) makes her the only Australian to ever win four golds in individual events.
American Regan Smith won silver and Canada’s Kylie Masse finished in third.
McKeown then went from the pool, to the podium and straight back into the pool to sneak into the final of the 200m individual medley, qualifying seventh, just ahead of countrywoman Ella Ramsey.
“It makes me feel like a bit shy,” she said in response to a claim she was our greatest of all time.
But she is now hot on the heels of Emma McKeon’s Australian record of six total gold medals. That could come as soon as Sunday morning’s 200m individual medley final.
“It’s a pretty cool little thing to have next to my name and I looked up to so many great people growing up in this sport so to be amongst those is amazing,” McKeown said
“Not in a million years, I still don’t believe it. I feel like I have got so much more to give in this sport and I think it’s honestly all down to my coach and my teammates.
“Those people and being surrounded by people like Emma (McKeon), they just fly under the radar all the time.
“Emma is one of the greatest and I will give that to her every day of the week.”
The Queenslander made a fantastic start and led Smith to the wall, but trailed both Kylie Masse and her close American rival after the first 100.
Masse faded heavily in the back half, paving the way for a race between McKeown, Smith and the world record line.
She touched the wall for gold just minutes after Cameron McEvoy did the same in the men’s 50m freestyle in a frenetic swimming double and around an hour before Saya Sakakibara’s emotional BMX gold, all part of a night that catapulted Australia back to equal-second on the overall medal tally with 11 golds.
McKeown snatched an Olympic record that had stood for 12 years.
She won the 100m backstroke earlier this week and has now joined teammate Mollie O’Callaghan in matching Ian Thorpe’s record of five gold medals.
Both are now in touching distance of McKeon’s record six golds.
