The Aussie swim team is not just lapping up the gold in this year’s Paris Olympics they are also smashing records as evidenced by Kaylee McKeown’s triumph in the 100m backstroke on Tuesday, July 30.
McKeown became just the second woman to win consecutive Olympic 100m backstroke gold medals following an “absolute beast of a swim”, securing Australia’s sixth gold medal in Paris.
The Aussie superstar secured victory with an Olympic record time of 57.33 seconds, while American Regan Smith took silver with a time of 57.66 seconds. Australia’s 18-year-old Olympic debutant, Iona Anderson, finished in fifth place.
McKeown now joins American Natalie Coughlin (2004, 2008) as the only women to successfully defend their Olympic 100m backstroke title.
McKeown dedicated her stellar effort in the pool to her late father who passed away in 2020 after a prolonged battle with brain cancer.
“I have a little bit of a superpower and that’s my Dad … I know that he’s here in spirit,” she said.
Although Smith set the pace early and held the lead at the turn, McKeown made an impressive comeback, moving from fourth place to deliver a stunning surge in the final lap and clinch victory.
“I knew it would come down to that last 25 metres,” McKeown said.
“It’s something that I’ve been practising for and it’s something that the Americans and myself are really good at, finishing our races strong.
“So it was going to be whoever had it in that last five, 10 metres.”
Fans were quick to shower McKeown with praise for her “outstanding” performance in the pool. Her remarkable achievement not only captivated audiences but also earned widespread admiration and congratulations from supporters everywhere.
McKeown’s stellar swim comes after fellow swimming sensation Mollie O’Callaghan secured Australia’s fifth gold medal of the Paris Olympic Games with a thrilling win in the women’s 200m freestyle.
Starting in fifth place, O’Callaghan climbed to third at the final turn and unleashed a powerful final lap to finish with an Olympic record time of 1:53.27.
Ariarne Titmus, who claimed gold in the 400m freestyle on Saturday night, was fourth after the first lap but advanced to second on the second lap and maintained that position, finishing with a time of 1:53.81.
This victory marks O’Callaghan’s first individual Olympic gold medal.
“I can’t explain it, there’s no way to explain it,” O’Callaghan said following her victory.
“I’m swimming for the country … this medal is for my support team, my coach, my family. It’s not just for me.
“There was a whole village behind me getting me to this point, so I’m very thankful to have them.”
-with AAP.