David McKeon
Born July 25, 1992 David McKeon is an Australian swimmer that competed in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics. McKeon is extremely tall, standing 6’5″ and now trains at St. Peters with his sister, Emma, under coach Michael Bohl after spending his initial years training under his father and at Wollongong NSW. McKeon loves the beach, and one of his favorite hobbies is going out on the Jet Ski.
McKeon family
McKeon is fellow Australian National Teamer Emma McKeon’s brother – the siblings come from an athletic family that also competed internationally in swimming. His father competed at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games, his uncle medaled at the 1984 Olympics and his mother competed at the Commonwealth Games. Both he and his sister were trained by their father, and the two qualified for their first World Championships under his training.
International breakout
Up until 2011 McKeon had mostly competed at national events including the Australian Championships. In 2011 however, McKeon made his first international competition, competing at the Short Course World Cup in Singapore – he won two gold medals in the 400m freestyle and 1500m freestyle and he also finished eighth in the 200m freestyle. The same year he competed at the World University Games in Singapore. McKeon won gold in the 400m freestyle, an event that’s become his namesake.
2012 London Olympics
At the 2012 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships McKeon qualified for the 2012 Olympics by winning the 400m freestyle and making the 800m freestyle relay squad by finishing third in the 200m freestyle. He swam both of these events in London, swimming in the morning heats of the 800m freestyle relay, but did not medal in either event.
Post-London
A year after the Olympics McKeon swam at the 2013 Barcelona World Championships alongside his sister – he finished 12th in the 400m freestyle and ninth in the 800m freestyle relay. A year later at the 2014 Commonwealth Games McKeon put on a show by winning gold in the 800m freestyle relay, silver in the 400m freestyle and he picked up a fourth-place finish in the 200m freestyle.
2015 FINA World Championships
McKeon came away from Kazan with a bronze medal as a member of the Aussie 800 meter freestyle relay. He joined Cameron McEvoy, Daniel Smith and Thomas Fraser-Holmes to finish third in 7:05.34 behind Great Britain and USA.
In his individual events, McKeon finished 10th in the 400 meter freestyle heats and 13th in the 200 meter freestyle semi-final.
2016 Rio Olympics
McKeon’s best finish in Rio came as a member of the 800 meter freestyle relay where Australia finished 4th in 7:04.18. In his individual events, McKeon finished seventh in the 400 meter freestyle final in 3:45.28 and 30th in the 200 meter freestyle.
2017 World Championships
In his third World Championships McKeon was in the 400 meter freestyle final where he finished 8th in 3:46.27.
