By Dan Walsh
Kaylee McKeown has claimed a “history-changing” shock bronze medal in the 200-metre individual medley courtesy of a post-race disqualification for American Alex Walsh.
McKeown touched the wall in fourth place behind Canadian teen Summer McIntosh and Americans Kate Douglass and Walsh, before a lengthy delay for the race times to be formalised.
Walsh was eventually pinged for an incorrect backstroke to breaststroke turn, the same indiscretion that ruled McKeown out of the 200-metre individual medley semi-finals at last year’s world championships.
McKeown and Swimming Australia were scathing of the decision at the time. But the Queensland champion was a surprise beneficiary in Paris, with Walsh’s disqualification elevating McKeown to third place in a time of 2:08.08
The 23-year-old’s bronze follows her gold-medal wins in the 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke and maintains a remarkable record of winning a medal in every Olympic event she has entered.
Australia’s Kaylee McKeown (right) with Kate Douglass of the United States and Canadian gold medallist Summer McIntosh.Credit: AP
“The majority of [your body] has to be on your back when you touch the wall to be able to then flip over to do the breaststroke,” Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe said in commentary regarding Walsh’s disqualification.
“That is the rule. I’ve seen Kaylee do it at the world champs and it changes the result. It changes history.”
McKeown initially did not realise she had finished on the podium, with news of her third place only reaching the Australian star as she was leaving the pool deck.
McIntosh’s victory makes her the first Canadian to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games.
More to come
