Paris Olympics: High drama as Kaylee McKeown wins another medal in controversial finish that sees Aussie benefit from some good karma
- Aussie expanded her incredible collection on Sunday morning
- Drama on the field after the 200m medley
Australian record holder Kaylee McKeown won bronze in the women’s 200m individual medley in Paris, finishing fourth to take the podium.
The Queenslander finished behind Canadian gold medalist Summer McIntosh, while Americans Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh finished second and third respectively.
However, Walsh was disqualified for a wrong turn as the field switched from backstroke to breaststroke, a violation that caused McKeown to be eliminated from the semi-finals of the event at last year’s world championships.
That decision by officials last July left the 23-year-old furious after she started the race as one of the favourites.
“I didn’t see my turn last night, but when I saw it this morning I thought it was completely unfair… s**t happens,” she said after the 2023 decision.
“We have footage and other angles that say different than what the officials saw. You have to go with what they say. Those are the rules and I broke the rules, apparently. There’s not much I can do about that.
“Unfortunately, some people get dealt a bad hand. It’s a matter of trying to turn it into something positive and giving a big ‘eff you.'”
Under the rules, swimmers are not allowed to turn more than 90 degrees on the front of their body when switching from backstroke to breaststroke. Walsh was caught crossing that line on Sunday morning (Australia time) in the 100m event.
Last year Kaylee McKeown was furious after the 200m individual medley at the world championships after she was disqualified for an illegal turn. On Sunday the same drama worked in her favour as she won bronze (pictured)
Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh (center) won gold, while American Kate Douglass (left) won silver – but her compatriot Alex Walsh was stripped of her third place by the judges
The drama saw McKeown win her seventh Olympic medal after setting multiple records on Saturday by defending her 200m backstroke title.
Her victory made her the first Australian to win four individual Olympic gold medals.
McKeown is also the first swimmer to successfully defend the 100m and 200m backstroke titles in Olympic history.
She has now won five golds in her Olympic career, including a victory in the women’s 4x100m medley at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
“It’s a really cool little thing to have next to my name and you know, I’ve looked up to so many great people growing up in this sport. To be among them is awesome,” she said.
“I believe I have so much more to offer in this sport. I think it’s honestly down to my coach and my teammates. Those people and being around people like Emma, they’re amazing.”
And above all, she dedicated the victory to her family.
Alex Walsh is pictured moments after being disqualified in Paris
The bronze will now go into a crowded trophy cabinet after McKeown broke multiple records with her victory in the 200m backstroke (pictured)
‘It’s probably more than what the medal means to me. I can’t put the words together [to say] “How much I love my family,” she said.
“It’s a privilege to be here tonight, to be in the stadium with so many people, to be on the podium and see my team and family behind me. It’s surreal.”
Emma McKeon holds the Australian record for most Olympic gold medals, having won six, four of which were in relays.
McKeown retained her 200m backstroke title in stunning fashion, running an Olympic record of 2 minutes, 03.73 seconds, some 0.59 seconds off her world record set in Sydney last year.
McKeown was in third place at the halfway point and second at the final turn, before taking the win ahead of American Regan Smith (2:04.26) and Canada’s Kylie Masse (2:05.57).