Australian swimming star Kaylee McKeown has slammed a controversial decision by the Australian Olympic Committee to kick athletes out of the Games village in Paris once they have completed their events.
At the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, athletes were robbed of the full Games experience due to COVID-19. Isolated from other teams and required to wear masks at all times, athletes from all sports had to exit the Olympic village shortly after their program ended. They flew back to Australia and were forced to complete two weeks of hotel quarantine.
Much to the dismay of some athletes, the AOC is set to enforce a similar rule at next year’s Olympics.
The AOC wants athletes to vacate the village within 48 hours of their last event, to give those still competing the best chance of success with fewer distractions.
Given alcohol is banned from the village, athletes usually party and celebrate away from those still competing.
Speaking ahead of the Australian Swimming Championships the Gold Coast, which start on Monday, McKeown expressed her shock at the news.
Kaylee McKeown after winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics.Credit: AP
“That’s the first time I’ve heard of it,” she said. “To be honest, I’m really disappointed, I’m really devastated.
“In 2021 us swimmers and a lot of other people who finished their sports got sent home to do quarantine for two weeks. We didn’t get to live the Olympic dream.
“Everyone always talks about finishing racing and that you get to go and do this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For that to be taken away from us is really upsetting. I was looking forward to getting myself onto that Olympic team in 2024.”
The AOC says athletes who finish their programs earlier can stay for the closing ceremony but will have to pay for their own accommodation. They are welcome to attend other events during the Games but will be separated from their teammates.
Face masks were a requirement at the last Olympics in Tokyo. Credit: EPA
With swimming always held in the first week of an Olympics, swimmers are some of the first athletes to finish their programs.
McKeown said the news doesn’t just affect her fellow competitors.
“If it’s more well-known to the athletes, not just the swimmers, there will be push back and not just from athletes but from parents and close friends,” McKeown said. “I know when I tell my Mum that, she’s going to be upset. It’s something you wish for your child to be able to fulfil their dreams. Hopefully it can be changed.”
In a statement, AOC chief executive said Matt Carroll the decision was based on high performance.
“This decision is about prioritising athlete performance and wellbeing over everything else,” Carroll said. “We have consulted with our Medical Commission and most importantly our Athletes’ Commission and our member sports, who agree that the number one priority for athletes is to perform at their best.
“The athletes have spent four years training for this moment, so giving each their chance to do their best is driving this thinking.
“Athletes can remain in the village but after 48 hours following the end of their sport’s competition they will move out.
“This creates a better environment for those still competing or about to compete. Our staff in the village can then focus entirely on the athletes who are still competing.
“Many who have finished will take the opportunity to tour Paris and France, but they can return for the closing ceremony and we can accommodate them back in the village for that.”
For now, McKeown and a number of other high-profile Olympians, including Emma McKeown, Kyle Chalmers, Zac Stubblety-Cook and Ariarne Titmus, are ready to compete in longcourse events for the first time this year.
McKeown has entered in five races at the national championships, including the 100m backstroke where she is the world record holder.
The 21-year-old, who won three gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, also set a new world best of 2:03.14 in the 200m backstroke at the NSW State Open Championships last month.
Interestingly, McKeown hasn’t entered the 200m backstroke, instead prioritising other non-favoured races such as the 200m breaststroke and 200m freestyle.
“It’s outdoors and I struggle in outdoor pools, so I don’t know if we’ll be seeing any world records,” McKeown said. “[World records] are always something that is unexpected. I don’t think anyone ever goes in thinking, ‘Oh, I’m going to break the world record’. The last one was definitely a surprise that’s for sure. I’m feeling really good and fit.”
Why you should care about the Australian Swimming Championships
The Australian Swimming Championships start on Monday, with the country’s best Olympic and Paralympic athletes converging on the Gold Coast. The event will be broadcast on 9Now.
Although an Australian champion will be crowned in all the usual events, the meet doesn’t hold huge significance for able-body swimmers. This is not a selection meet, nor a way for athletes to qualify for anything on the horizon.
The big-ticket event this year is the World Aquatics Championships, with the swimming component taking place in Fukuoka from July 23-30. Australia’s trials for the world championships will be held in Melbourne from June 13-18.
Why does this upcoming event matter?
Firstly, all the big names will be there, such as Kyle Chalmers, Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown and Ariarne Titmus. It is also swimmers’ first opportunity to properly compete in longcourse events since the Commonwealth Games in August.
They will want to put a decent marker down 15 months out from the Paris Olympics.
However, it’s a different story for para swimmers. This is their route to qualifying for the Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester, starting July 31.
Five races to watch
Women’s 400m freestyle – Wednesday evening
Last month, Canadian young gun Summer McIntosh broke Ariarne Titmus’ 400m world record. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the reigning Olympic champion, who says she has “fire in the belly” to become top dog again. Will Titmus try and regain her world record? That’s not clear, but it’s certainly worth tuning in to see if Titmus does go all-out.
Women’s 100m freestyle – Monday evening
This race could not be more jam-packed with talent. Emma McKeon, Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Madi Wilson and Meg Harris are all there, plus returning three-time Olympian Cate Campbell, who races for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics. O’Callaghan shaded McKeon in this event at the Commonwealth Games.
Men’s 100m butterfly – Wednesday evening
Matt Temple is the reigning Australian champion in this event, but all eyes will be on Kyle Chalmers and Cody Simpson. Chalmers has been entering in more butterfly events, while Simpson continues to go about his work in a bid to make the remarkable transition from pop star to Olympian.
Women’s 100m backstroke – Tuesday evening
Kaylee McKeown is Australia’s undisputed backstroke queen. A world record holder in the 100m and 200m events, McKeown has a habit of pulling out fast times at meetings where the pressure is off.
Men’s 100m freestyle (multi-class) – Wednesday evening
Rowan Crothers is a star of the Australian Paralympic team, having won two golds and a silver at the Tokyo Games. He backed that up with two more golds in the 50m and 100m (S10) events at last year’s world championships. Crothers is best remembered for his wild celebration on top of the lane rope in Tokyo.
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