The mother of four-time Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown believes her daughter deserves greater recognition for her achievements, as Australia’s backstroke star aims to create history with another victory in the 200m backstroke on Friday (Saturday morning AEST) that would see her draw level with Ian Thorpe in terms of overall Olympic gold medals.
Just weeks after losing her 100m backstroke world record to American Regan Smith, McKeown delivered a resounding win in the two-lap event on Tuesday evening to continue a flawless career at the Olympics.
After picking up three gold medals in Tokyo – in the 100m and 200m backstroke, plus the women’s 4x100m medley relay – McKeown is one more win away from securing her fourth individual gold medal and fifth overall.
Over more than a century, no Australian Olympian has ever won four individual gold medals.
McKeown is the world record holder in the 200m backstroke and will go in as the favourite after cruising through a heat and semi-final on Thursday in Paris.
“I personally don’t believe she gets the full recognition that she should get,” McKeown’s mother Sharon told this masthead at a Speedo function in Paris. “I just think it’s more about [swimmers who do] other strokes that get a lot more recognition.”
If McKeown can take out the 200m backstroke, she will draw level with Thorpe, an icon of the sport, on five gold medals. Another win in the 200m individual medley later in the program – heats begin on Friday (Saturday evening AEST) – would see McKeown equal Emma McKeon’s magic mark of six golds, two of which came in individual races in Tokyo.
No swimmer, male or female from any country, has ever completed the 100-200 backstroke double at consecutive Olympics.
Just like at last year’s world championships in Japan, McKeown inflicted another psychological blow on Smith, ahead of another 200m showdown, by touching the wall 0.33 seconds clear in the 100m backstroke.
It was the biggest margin of victory in the event since Missy Franklin’s win over Emily Seebohm in 2012.
Kaylee McKeown celebrates after her 100m backstroke victory. Credit: AP
Sharon said Kaylee losing her world record was a weight off her shoulders before Paris.
“She was fired up,” said Sharon of Kaylee. “She did say, ‘I’m not going to let them beat me, mum. The pressure’s off me and now I’ve got a challenge’.
“They seem to be friends because when Kaylee broke Regan’s record, initially Regan messaged Kaylee to congratulate her. Kaylee did the same when Regan broke hers recently.
Gold medallist Kaylee McKeown with Regan Smith (left) and Katharine Berkoff (right). Credit: Getty Images
“They are obviously are not the best of mates and don’t ring and text one another, but they communicate to one another. I think it’s just a mutual respect.”
McKeown’s family was unable to watch her three gold medals in Tokyo due to COVID-19 restrictions but have spent thousands of dollars for tickets and hotels to watch one of Australia’s greatest Olympians continue to write her name into the record books.
“Being here is a huge difference … being able to watch live and be in the atmosphere,” she said. “When the race was happening, it was just a bit of a blur.
“[The best thing was] just to be able to give her a hug because we haven’t seen her for over a month. I congratulated her and told her I love her.”
Australia’s other big gold medal hope on Friday is Cam McEvoy, who was the equal fastest qualifier through to the men’s 50m freestyle final – an event Australia has never won a medal in.
How would he rest for the big race, in pursuit of a maiden Olympic gold medal?
“I’ll watch some Netflix … Big Bang Theory,” McEvoy said. “I’ll watch some swimming. Watch other sports. It should be a pretty red-hot final.”
