Paris Olympics: Emotional Farewell for Emma McKeon in Last Individual Race of Stellar 16-Year Career
Australia’s most successful Olympian Emma McKeon has swum her final individual race, finishing sixth in the women’s 100m butterfly final in what was an emotional day for the 30-year-old Gold Coaster from Griffith University.
McKeon called time on her career in the lead up to this year’s Australian Trials and added her record-breaking sixth gold and her 12th medal in the Olympic record breaking 4x100m freestyle relay on the opening night.
SIXTH GOLD FOR EMMA MCKEON: Australia 400 freestyle relay – Shayna Jack, Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris. Courtesy: DeepBlueMedia
And one of Australia’s most humblest of champions gave an emotional post-race interview to Paralympic star Ellie Cole on the Channel 9 broadcast – remembering she still has relay duties to fulfill before the final curtain on a stellar career like no other.
Breaking down, an emotional McKeon admitted she tried not to think about it before the race.
“It’s just emotional, I hoped that race would have been better, but I know I have a lot to be proud of, but it was always going to be emotional finishing something that has brought me so much joy and making so many great relationships,” said a tearful McKeon.
“I have had learnt so many great life lessons and I have got so many fond memories of swimming and obviously the week is nowhere near done yet, but I just feel privileged to be here and this is my fifth time out here in Paris already and its only day two – I just feel so lucky.
“I haven’t had enough proper time to reflect on my career as yet – because as athletes we are always looking forward to what the next thing is and for me, I’m always looking to how can I improve, all the time, year after year day after day.
“I am looking forward to the time when I can look back on it all. I have so many great people around me who have been through similar things as well, like my brother David (a two-time Olympian) who stopped swimming three or four years ago, so I’ve got a lot people to support me,
“My family have led that support – they have always supported me as a person first and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.
“ I am so lucky that they have been with me every step of the way through the highs and the lows and then there’s people like Jess Corones our sports scientist who has worked with me since I was 14 or 15 and I honestly wouldn’t be when I am or who I am without her.”
Talking the Australian media in Paris, McKeon said her goal coming into the Olympics and every meet was to stand behind the blocks fully confident believing in herself and being in the right mental space.
“And that I have to be proud of,” said McKeon.
Asked about jumping past Ian Thorpe as the greatest gold medal winner in Australian Olympic history and taking his crown, McKeon, in typical humble fashion replied light heartedly with: “I don’t think I’ve taken any crown off Ian….I don’t think like that, I’m proud of what I’ve done but people like Thorpie is why the sport is where it’s at, swimmers like Ian, Suzie (O’Neill) and Jodie Henry ..and so many like them have inspired us all….
“I hope I have (also) left a mark for the future swimmers and left a mark on the team, always wanting to encourage them and show them the ropes when they make the tram ..I hope I’ve done that.”
FINAL FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST OLYMPIAN. Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan (Wade’s Photos)
