Olympic Golden Girl Kaylee McKeown Sizzles At Victorian Championships: Wins 200m Backstroke In Faster Time Than Tokyo
Australia’s triple Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown has stunned the swimming world again in Melbourne tonight winning the 200m backstroke on the opening night of the Victorian Championships in a faster time than it took her to win Tokyo gold.
Kaylee McKeown Celebrates Golden Double In The 200m Backstroke
The 20-year-old clocked 2:04.64, the seventh fastest time in history and it comes after a tumultuous post Games upheaval with the revelation that she tore a shoulder muscle on the eve of the Games.
And he returned home to the news that coach Chris Mooney had accepted a new head coaching role at Bond University on the Gold Coast – leaving the University of Sunshine Coast (USC Spartans) program.
FAMILY TRADITION: Nunawading’s Smith family are synonymous with the Victorian State Open Championships and the 2022 meet was extra special with the club’s Tokyo bronze medallist Brendon arriving into town with his girlfriend triple Olympic gold medalilst Kaylee McKeown with his sisters sisters Mikayla and Reidle sharing the breaststroke podium. Photo Courtesy: James Boyd (Nunawading Swimming Club).
It left McKeown with the biggest decision of her short career – to find a new coach and after trialling several programs she decided to stay at USC under new coach, former WAIS coach Mick Palfrey before eventually landing on the Gold Coast under decorated Olympic gold medal coach Michael Bohl and his star-studded Griffith University squad.
Bohl, coach of seven-time Tokyo medallist and female swimmer of the meet in Tokyo, Emma McKeon, has also adopted 2016 Olympic champion Mack Horton and 2020 Tokyo bronze medallist over 400m individual medley, Brendon Smith – McKeown’s boyfriend.
The Griffith University squad is now based at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre’s Swimming Australia Hub at Southport – home of the 2014 Pan Pacs and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
McKeown wasted no time setting the Melbourne Aquatic Centre alight – splitting 29.74 and 1:01.87 (32.13) before coming home in 1:02.77 (31.85 and 30.92) – a powerhouse final 50.
Her 2:04.64 gives her five of the top 10 fastest times ever recorded: 4th 2:04.28 2021 Olympic Trials, Adelaide); 5th 2:04.31 (2021 Sydney Open); 6th 2:04.49 (2020 Qld Medal Shots); 7th 2:04.64 (2022 Victorian Championships); 8th 2:04.68 (2020 Tokyo Olympics, 2021).
And it was also a new Victorian All-Comers record breaking the previous mark of 2:07.16 – set by American Margaret Hoelzer at the 2007 Fina World Championships – set 14 years ago.
The February time comes after a week-long National Camp on the Gold Coast which featured the Australian Swimmer Of The Year Awards.
Meanwhile in other events, Smith led a family onslaught, talking the 400m freestyle in 3:51.66 from Nunawading team mate Elliott Rogerson (3:53.49) and NSW’s Matthew Galea (SOPAC) 34:53.76.
Before watching a feat that had swimming officials rumbling through the record books after the top three placings in the women’s 100m breaststroke all going to Smiths.
Brendon’ sisters, 23-year-old Mikayla Smith and 19-year-old Reidel Smith won the gold and silver for Nunawading with 17-year-old Matilda Smith (Hobart Aquatic Club), no relation, third.
Mikayla won gold in 1:08.35 23 with Reidel taking silver in 1:10.10 19 and Matilda the bronze in 1:10.64 in a night to remember for team Smith.
The Nunawading Smith family has a second to none record with the club – dating back to the contribution of father Peter Smith who has been a long time member; afour- time Club Captain of Nunawading in 1980/81, 1981/82, 1983/84 and 1984/85 and a three-time winner of the Club’s highest award, the Butler Trophy in 1979/80, 1982/83 and 1983/84.
Wife Annisa Smith has also been an extremely active member of the Nunawading Swim Committee and Metro East.