(Kaylee McKeown Olympic backstroke, Kaylee McKeown Paris Olympics backstroke, Kaylee McKeown gold medals, Kaylee McKeown swimming records, Kaylee McKeown 200m backstroke record)
Kaylee McKeown has made a monumental splash in Australian Olympic history by becoming the first athlete in any sport to win four individual gold medals. Her recent victory in the 200m Backstroke at the Paris Olympics has further cemented her status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
In a stunning display of athletic prowess, McKeown added the 200m Backstroke title to her already impressive collection of medals.
By defeating America’s Regan Smith and Canada’s Kylie Masse, she has become just the second female swimmer in Olympic history to achieve the ‘double-double’ winning both the 100m and 200m Backstroke titles in consecutive Games.
The only other swimmer to accomplish this was Ukrainian Yana Khlockova, who won the 200m-400m medleys in 2000 and 2004.
McKeown’s achievement is particularly noteworthy because no swimmer, male or female, has ever defended the backstroke double successfully before. Her performance in Paris showcases her exceptional talent and determination.
Smith, known for her fierce competitiveness, started the race aggressively, putting McKeown to the test. To secure another gold medal, McKeown had to dig deep and push through a challenging race.
Despite a nervous start, McKeown managed to turn things around in the second half of the race. She gradually gained momentum and surged ahead to win with a new Olympic record time of 2:03.73. Smith finished second with a time of 2:04.26, while Masse claimed bronze with a time of 2:05.57.
In her post-race comments, McKeown admitted to feeling anxious and taking an aggressive approach to the race. She expressed disbelief at her achievement of owning four individual gold medals, surpassing the legendary Australian swimmers like Ian Thorpe, Dawn Fraser, and Shane Gould.
McKeown credited her inspiration to her sister Taylor McKeown and fellow swimmers Emily Seebohm and Emma McKeon. Training alongside these greats has been a significant source of motivation for her, fueling her drive to excel in the sport.
McKeown’s flawless record in Olympic events is a testament to her remarkable consistency. She has won a medal in every event she has competed in and still has two medley relays and the 200m Individual Medley (IM) to go in Paris.
Although McKeown had a challenging schedule, with less than an hour between her backstroke final and the medley relay semifinals, she managed to qualify for the finals of the 200m IM. She will face tough competition from Canada’s Summer McIntosh and Alex Walsh from the USA.
McKeown’s twin golds have contributed to Australia’s impressive performance in the pool, leading the medal tally with seven gold medals. France follows with four golds, all won by the outstanding Leon Marchand, while the USA has four golds with two days of competition remaining.