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Pool queen Emma McKeon reveals the touching reason she broke down in tears after winning another World Championship gold
- Emma McKeon was once again the star attraction in the pool in Australia
- The 28-year-old queen of the pool won the 100m freestyle at the short course world titles in Melbourne
- McKeon was delighted to have her grandparents in the crowd on Thursday night.
Australia’s Queen of Pool Emma McKeon revealed why she was so excited after winning the women’s 100m freestyle final at the World Short Course Championships in Melbourne on Thursday night.
The five-time Olympic gold medalist was delighted to have her grandparents in the crowd, declaring it was “very special to have them here.”
“It means a lot,” McKeon said when chatting with superstar swimmer Ariarne Titmus after the race on Nine’s coverage.
“I actually saw them for the first time during the performance and I was crying a bit so I had to look away.
‘They haven’t seen me run for probably four years in person.
Emma McKeon has revealed why she was so excited after winning the women’s 100m freestyle final at the World Short Course Championships in Melbourne.
With her grandparents watching, McKeon had to dig deep in the final, touching the wall slightly ahead of Hong Kong’s Siobhan Bernadette Haughey.
‘So to have this event in his hometown, they were my motivation.
“They’re my number one supporter and always have been, so I wanted to make sure I could do a good job for them.”
McKeon had to call on all her experience in the 100m final, touching the wall ahead of Hong Kong’s Siobhan Bernadette Haughey by just 0.10sec.
The 28-year-old from the Gold Coast stopped the clock in 50.77 to break the championship record.
McKeon, who also dates Australian pop star-turned-swimmer Cody Simpson, paid tribute to the crowd at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
“A packed grandstand, it really is a dream come true for us athletes to be able to compete in front of a home crowd with a packed grandstand,” McKeon said.
McKeon’s boyfriend, pop star-turned-swimmer Cody Simpson, was seen cheering poolside at the five-time Olympic gold medalist.
Kyle Chalmers also had fans salivating on Thursday night, winning two gold medals in the 100m freestyle and the 4x50m freestyle relay.
“Obviously it’s me in the pool spinning around when I run, but I have a great team behind me.”
“My family is a part of that, my coach (Michael Bohl) is a part of that and I’m very lucky to have them with me all the time.”
Kyle Chalmers also brought the fans to their feet on Thursday night, winning two gold medals.
‘King Kyle’ won the 100m freestyle in a spectacular championship record time of 45.16 before becoming a key figure as an anchor in the triumphant men’s 4x50m freestyle relay team.
The FINA World Swimming Championships conclude on Sunday.