2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
- Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
- La Défense Arena — Paris, France
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Full Swimming Schedule
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Pick ’em Contest
- How To Watch
- Entry Lists
- Live Results
- Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1
- Finals Live Recaps: Day 1
Emma McKeon made medal history tonight as she represented Australia in her 3rd Olympic Games.
The 30-year-old Griffith University star served on her nation’s women’s 4x100m freestyle relay in this evening’s final, splitting 52.39 on the 3rd leg as Australia soared to gold in a new Olympic Record mark of 3:28.92.
The relay propelled McKeon to a remarkable 12 Olympic medals, with tonight’s gold added to her previous 5 earned across the 2020 Games in Tokyo and the 2016 Games in Rio.
Entering Paris, McKeon’s previous 11-medal haul made her Australia’s winningest Olympic athlete; however, her 6th gold here in Paris now surpasses Ian Thorpe as the nation’s swimmer with the most golds.
Additionally, McKeon now ties Americans Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin as the female swimmers with the most medals in history.
On her achievement, the modest McKeon told Channel 9, “Wow. I don’t keep track of that kind of stuff. I hear it from you guys. It’s an honour really.” (FoxSports)
McKeon will have more opportunities to increase her haul, contesting the final of the women’s 100m fly tomorrow evening in addition to the women’s medley relay later in the week.
In addition to her 9 Olympic Records McKeon has an unofficial Olympic Record. She has the fastest 100 metre relay split ever swum at the Olympics – 51.35 at Tokyo. Cate Campbell has 4 faster times but none of them were swum at the Olympics.
So far McKeon has the fastest at these Olympics too (51.94) tied with Meg Harris.
She’s one of three active swimmers (the other two are Ledecky and Sjostrom) that won Olympics medals in four individual events: 50-100-200 free, 100 fly.
Legend!
Australia have the room to have a 4x200m prelims team completely different from the finals as long as prelims only swimmers are entered. Titmus & O’Callaghan will sizzle in the finals… McKeon can certainly split 1.56 or better in the 4×200 and that’s an almost guaranteed gold medal barring a DQ or an epic disaster… It’s doubtful Emma will medal individually in the 100 fly
Is she in for a spot in the prelims 4×200 relay?
No McKeon hasn’t swum the 4×200 since Tokyo. She has the 100 Fly final, fly leg of Womens medley relay and possibility of a prelims swim in the Mixed medley relay remaining.
It would be funny if SwimAus put her in the 4×2 heats to give her a chance to finish with more medals than Ledecky but wouldn’t be fair to those athletes that swam the 200 at trials.
Imagine Aussie coaches try the Tokyo (also Beijing 2008 gold) strategy of full heats/final 4 swap:
Heats: Jack, Perkins, Harris & Mckeon
Finals: top 4 from trials – Arnie, Mollie, Lani and Bri
As the other commenter said, she hasn’t swum 200 free since Tokyo and in any event Australia has about 10 swimmers it can choose from for that relay.
Yes,,subject to coaches’ discretion
What a swimmer!!! A true legend.
Assuming she doesn’t medal in the 100 fly she probably finishes with 13 or 14 if they put her on the mixed medley and medal there. Ledecky currently has 11 right and is likely to add 3 more in the 800, 1500 and 4×200 free relay. So they likely leave as the two most decorated women ever?
If I counted correctly for Ledecky (I know this article is about the amazing accomplishment of McKeon) she has 7 Gold, 3 Silver & 1 Bronze as of today.
Ledecky will win medals at her last Olympics in LA28. She will be number 1 among female swimmers. And I hope Ledecky swims the 10k the next time. She should have done that for these Olympics
I recall reading an interview where she was asked about open water and gave it a hard no. A lot can happen in four years but it would be really surprising if she couldn’t make the US team in at least the 800/1500 and medal in the 1500.
If Ledecky wants to continue swimming to LA28 all power to her. She’s a legend of the sport and it would be nice to see her conitnue… would be an end of an era when she does retire.
It’s always nice to have new champions emerge but having that connection to past legends is nice and if Katie can make it to LA28 then it will be great to see.
From an Aussie point of view, it’s sad to see C1, C2, and Mckeon retiring this year.