Australian swimming superstar Emma McKeon is truly making waves in the pool after securing yet another gold medal, bringing her career total to 13.
McKeon extended her lead as Australia’s most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete, taking home the gold for her part in Australia’s 4 x 100m individual medley mixed relay on Wednesday, August 3.
McKeon swam the anchor leg in freestyle for the mixed medley alongside Kaylee McKeown (backstroke), Zac Stubblety-Cook (backstroke) and Matt Temple (butterfly), blitzing their competitors with a combined time of 3:41.30.
McKeon’s 13th gold comes hot on the heels of her recent gold medal performance in the 50m butterfly final, in a time of 25.90 seconds on Tuesday, August 2.
McKeon has now well and truly surpassed Australian swimmers such as Susie O’Neill, Ian Thorpe, and Leisel Jones who each have 10 gold medals and has now won more medals than any other Commonwealth Games athlete, beating out shooter Phillip Adams who has 18 medals.
The win in the 50m butterfly final alongside her recent victory in the 4 x 100m medley mixed relay provides McKeon with her fifth gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The 28-year-old also won the Mixed 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay, women’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay and women’s 50m Freestyle.
Following her triumphant victory in the butterfly final, McKeon told reporters that she was pleased with her performance.
“I feel great. I think that was my 13th race. I’ve been counting since I got to halfway and that was on day two,” she said.
“That’s my first international medal in the 50 fly and my main focus is the 100 fly and it’s good to know I have that speed.
“The 50 fly is about keeping your stroke and getting your hand on the wall first.”
It seems McKeon has no plans to slow down either as she affirmed her commitment to competing in the Paris Olympics in 2024.
“I am going through to Paris for sure,” she told 7 News.
“I’m excited to keep going.”
Despite McKeon’s impressive feats in the water, she was left in awe of 18-year-old Mollie O’Callaghan who beat McKeon to win gold in the women’s 100m freestyle final to take home the gold in a time of 52.63 seconds.
O’Callaghan was humble in her victory, praising McKeon as an athlete she idolises.
“I’m really happy. And I’m happy to do it with these amazing girls. Especially Emma. She is an absolute idol,” O’Callaghan told 7 News.
“It is really nice to race alongside her at this time.”