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Kaylee McKeown wins gold and defends 100m backstroke title at Paris Olympics

In Sport
31 7 月, 2024
Kaylee McKeown win Paris Olympic 2024 100 meter backstroke gold medals

Kaylee McKeown has paid tribute to her late father after become just the second woman to win consecutive Olympic 100-metre backstroke gold medals.

McKeown, who collected Australia’s sixth gold at the Paris Olympics, hopes her stirring triumph is the first of four at the Games.

The Queenslander joins American Natalie Coughlin (2004, 2008) as the only women to successfully defend Olympic titles in the event.

The 23-year-old edged the United States’ world record holder Regan Smith in Wednesday morning’s final at La Defense Arena.

And she raced with the spirit of her father Sholto, who passed away in 2020 after a prolonged battle with brain cancer.

“Expectation is a privilege and if you get the privilege, it is special,” she said.

“I like to think I have a super power and that’s my dad. I believe he was with me tonight.

“He would be extremely proud. I’m grateful to have my family here because he would be here in spirit.”

McKeown won in an Olympic record time of 57.33 seconds, with Smith taking silver in 57.66.

“Kaylee is an absolutely incredible racer. And she knows what to do when it matters,” Smith said.

The American set the early pace and led at the turn, with McKeown in fourth place.

The Dolphin produced a stunning last-lap surge to victory in an Olympic record time.

“I knew it would come down to that last 25m,” 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, 10m.”

McKeown collected gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke events at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

She will begin the defence of her 200m crown on Thursday and has also added the 200m individual medley to her Paris program.

McKeown will also feature in the 4x100m medley — an event she helped Australia win in Tokyo.

“It’s one race at a time and I’ve ticked off three boxes so far,” she said, referring to her 100m backstroke heat, semifinal and final swims.

“There’s a few more to go hopefully. It’s just a matter of … step by step.”

Later, Australia’s 4x200m freestyle relay team of Max Giuliani, Flynn Southam, Elijah Winnington and Thomas Neill came third behind Great Britain and the United States, adding Australia’s first bronze to the Paris Olympics medal tally.

Chalmers secures spot in 100m final

McKeown’s win came soon after compatriot Kyle Chalmers secured his spot in the men’s 100m freestyle final.

The 2016 Olympic champion and silver medallist in the event at the Tokyo Games three years ago clocked 47.58 — the exact time he posted to win gold in Rio.

China’s world record holder Pan Zhanle was quickest through the semis in 47.21 after paying tribute to Chalmers pre-race.

“Pan, the Chinese boy, straight before we walked out [he] said, ‘You’re my idol and I love, love, love watching you,'” 26-year-old Chalmers said.

“So that was kind of crazy.

“Probably their first Olympic experience is almost my gold medal in Rio so to be inspiring this next generation of 100 freestylers and still being able to match them a little bit is is nice.”

Australia’s Shayna Jack and Mollie O’Callaghan, a night after her 200m freestyle triumph, both advanced to the final of the women’s 100m sprint.