Kaylee McKeown Could Join Rare Club at Olympic Games

Kaylee Mckeown of Australia reacts after winning the gold medal in the 100m Backstroke Women Final during the 20th World Aquatics Championships at the Marine Messe Hall A in Fukuoka (Japan), July 25th, 2023.

Kaylee McKeown Could Chase Unique Company at Olympic Games

Only once in Olympic history has the gold medalist of the women’s 200-meter individual medley also been the champion of a 100-meter event during the same Games. That scenario unfolded at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where Hungarian Katinka Hosszu stood atop the podium in the 100 backstroke and 200 medley.

Could Hosszu have company this summer?

Coming off a five-title haul at last week’s Australian Championships, Kaylee McKeown is surging toward Paris. In addition to sweeping the backstroke events, McKeown doubled in the 200 individual medley and 400 IM. More, McKeown confirmed that the 200 IM will be part of her Olympic program.

McKeown is the reigning Olympic champion in the 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke, and again will chase gold in those events in the French capital. The Aussie and American Regan Smith are considered the favorites in the 100 backstroke, thanks to their consistency and routine sub-58 performances in recent years, and a 200 backstroke duel could be epic as well.

The new wrinkle for McKeown is her decision to contest the 200 IM in Olympic waters. At the Aussie Champs, the 22-year-old clocked a national record of 2:06.99 to become just the fourth woman to crack the 2:07 barrier in the event. Although she has managed impressive swims during her career, this effort elevated McKeown to another level as a medley star.

McKeown’s presence in the 200 IM in Paris enhances an already intriguing event that is likely to feature Canadian star Summer McIntosh and American Kate Douglass, both of whom own world titles in the discipline. Of course, athletes such as Alex Walsh could also have an impact on the medals distribution.

Whatever transpires, the fact that McKeown is positioned to pursue a unique Olympic double (and more, with the 200 backstroke) adds a further storyline to the Olympics landscape.

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Denise

9 days ago

Love all types of sporting events