Swimming World Champion Kaylee McKeown reveals why she wouldn’t be in the sport if it weren’t for Gina Rinehart – and talks about her clash with teammate Cate Campbell

Kaylee McKeown has revealed she wouldn’t be a global swimming superstar if it weren’t for Gina Rinehart’s generosity — and why she personally disagrees with Cate Campbell’s explosive comments about the US swim team.

McKeown, 22, won the women’s 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke at the recent World Championships in Japan – acknowledging that without Rinehart’s funding, her brilliant swimming career would never have happened.

“She (Rinehart) is my livelihood, without her funding many of us wouldn’t be in the sport,” McKeown told 2GB radios Ben Fordham on Friday.

“Swimmers need sponsorship and Mrs. Rinehart has supported me since I was sixteen.

‘I am very grateful.’

The 22-year-old won the women’s 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke at the recent World Championships in Japan

McKeown also told 2GB’s Ben Fordham that she personally disagrees with Cate Campbell’s explosive recent comments about the US swim team.

Fordham also revealed that Rinehart personally funds 75 swimmers and 50 rowers – and has provided $60 million to Australian Olympic athletes over the past decade.

In addition, she also supports Australian artistic swimmers and volleyball players.

Rinehart’s cash injection is considered the largest single contribution to Olympic sport by an individual anywhere in the world.

McKeown himself distanced himself from Campbell’s pointed jibe against the US swim team after the World Championships in Japan.

Campbell labeled the American stars “sore losers” after the Aussies dominated at the World Championships last week, breaking records on an exceptional trip to Japan.

“Everyone is entitled to an opinion… (but) I don’t agree with how Cate expressed her opinion,” she told Fordham.

“I’m all for rivalry, but you don’t have to be mean about it.

“She didn’t speak for all Australian swimmers, but Cate can say what she wants.”

Olympic great Cate Campbell branded US team ‘sore losers’ after World Championships in Japan

Campbell lashed out at the USA team after they attempted to claim overall victory as they won the most medals in Fukuoka, even though Australia took the gold medal with 13.

The Aussies also broke four world records.

“What a sore loser,” Campbell said on Channel Nine’s Today Show.

“I mean, Australia coming out on top in the world is one thing, but it’s just so much more fun to beat America.

“We didn’t have to hear ‘Star Spangled Banner’ blaring through the stadium the first night of the game. I can’t tell you how happy that made me.

“If I hear that song one more time, it’s too soon. Long live Paris. That’s all I have to say to the US. Stop being sore losers.”

That prompted McKeown to say: “There’s a right way and a wrong way to say things and Cate is entitled to her opinion, but I just want the US to know she’s not speaking for the entire Australian team.”

Swimming Australia head coach Rohan Taylor was baffled by the US claiming the team award presented by the sport’s governing body, World Aquatics.

Australia captured 13 gold, seven silver and five bronze medals in Fukuoka at the World Championships

US team members posed with the best team trophy at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka – despite being blown out of the water by the Australian team

The Americans won seven gold medals out of their 38 medals, with their combined result the highest of any nation.

“The way the award is given is on the total number of medals, that’s the award,” Taylor said.

“We (Australia) have always looked at it, and I was raised through the Don Talbot era, that gold medals were the most important thing.

“So from our perspective, we were the best performing team in terms of gold medals.

“And if you look at the website and you look at the medal mirror, we’re on top of that.

‘That’s how I feel. But I’m not taking anything from the US and they won the award based on the criteria that were there.’