Caboolture-educated Kaylee McKeown cements her place in Olympic history as she becomes the first Australian swimmer to win four individual gold medals. At the Paris Olympics, McKeown successfully defended her 200m backstroke title, adding to her earlier victory in the 100m backstroke.
Read: Kaylee McKeown Gets Gold in 100m Backstroke in Paris
Kaylee McKeown, Australian swimming legend
McKeown’s latest triumph elevates her above other Australian Olympic greats. With four individual golds, she surpasses the likes of Ian Thorpe, Dawn Fraser, and Betty Cuthbert, who each hold three. This feat places McKeown in a league of her own among Australian Olympians.
The 23-year-old Queenslander’s victory in the 200m backstroke comes in an Olympic record time of 2:03.73. McKeown’s win matches Hungarian legend Krisztina Egerszegi’s record of four Olympic backstroke gold medals, solidifying her status as one of the greatest backstrokers in history.
McKeown’s historic swim caps off a successful night for Australia in the pool. Veteran Cameron McEvoy, 30, claims gold in the men’s 50m freestyle with a time of 21.25, marking Australia’s first-ever medal in this event at the Olympics.
Despite her exhaustion, McKeown qualified for the 200m individual medley final just minutes after her golden performance. With potential medals in two medley relays and the individual medley event still to come, McKeown’s record-breaking run may not be over yet.
Read: Olympic Preview: Ella Connolly, Calab Law Sprint for Glory
Australia now leads the swimming medal table with seven golds, five silvers, and one bronze, with two nights of competition remaining.
Featured Image Photo Credit: Kaylee McKeown OAM/Instagram
Published 03-August-2024
