Kaylee McKeown Breaks Down Triple-Gold Olympic Performance with Torn Labrum

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman HodgesGarrett McCaffrey, and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

We sat down with 3x Olympic champion from Tokyo, Kaylee McKeown. We start by discussing where she’s at currently, including recovering from a torn labrum she sustained before the Olympic Games and trying out a myriad of different training groups in Queensland. Then we get into her Olympic experience, where she dissects both of her individual wins in the 100 and 200 back as well as her contributions of Australia’s gold medal 400 medley relay and bronze medal mixed 400 medley relay.

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Bunga
2 years ago

OK? I’ll have you know I went a 3:04 in a 300 kick in warm up only 7 months after tearing MY labrum! And no article for me of course.

Stewart 100 back gold in Fukuoka
Reply to  Bunga
2 years ago

It’s not same as winning 3 Olympic golds 2 weeks after tearing labrum.

Corn Pop
Reply to  Bunga
2 years ago

Yards do not count.

Texas Tap Water
Reply to  Bunga
2 years ago

Did your father die 10 months prior and did you win 3 Olympics gold.

So many salty people lol

There's no doubt that he's tightening up
2 years ago

So McKeown went 2:04.6 and 58 flat in pain from a torn labrum lol

Texas Tap Water

Her injury occured even before the Olympics.

She also lost her father last year.

And she doesn’t blame those adversity.

Unlike certain swimmer who made excuses for her slow swim, blaming that she overtrained. Lol

ALEXANDER POP-OFF
Reply to  Texas Tap Water
2 years ago

Tired of your nasty comments. Just say you have a problem w Manuel and go. We all know why.

Just give the trophy to the condors already
2 years ago

Bae

Ragnar
2 years ago

Glad she held off of the IMs to ensure the back golds, but definitely shows that the 5 individual golds of Phelps will never occur again. If Kaylee enters the IMs, maybe she medals in all four, no guarantee for any wins. The strength of the field has increased so much, no golds are safe in any event not that isn’t the Men’s 50 free as of 2021. What a performance she had, as did all Aussies

wow
Reply to  Ragnar
2 years ago

She is a very similar swimmer to Kirsty Coventry in regard to her event line-up. Coventry always won the 2BK, but never quite rose to the top in the IMs or 1BK (did break world records but never won them at the big summer meet). Heavy schedule adds up.

Canuswim
Reply to  Ragnar
2 years ago

With the addition of semis for 200’s & below way harder to have a multiple event line up and be on podium. Seems crazy the #1 ranked swimmer in 200IM had to drop event to manage race load. Like to see FINA remove semis for 200’s (there were only 17 entries for 200 fly) and add 50 strokes with heats/semis/finals.

The unoriginal Tim
Reply to  Canuswim
2 years ago

Had semis in 2008 and it didn’t stop you know who. The 2Fly had limited entrants partly because countires leave A qulaifiers at home. I forget the figure but something like 40 awimmers had an A cut

Canuswim
Reply to  The unoriginal Tim
2 years ago

2Fly is a weak event for woman globally (gold medal was an amazing swim and fastest in many years yet still over a second off WR and silver & bronze not even close). No way 24 women for 200 Fly were left at home due to harder cuts than Fina A imposed by their country, maybe 1 or 2 max. Countries with tighter qualifying times will also likely continue to do so, keeping entries lower all around.

Sure Phelps managed semis, but he’s the exception. It’s a shame the fastest woman in world in 200 IM for 2021 scratched due to semis of other events. Emma M also no 200 free for same reason. If you only have 2/3… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Canuswim
Troyy
Reply to  Canuswim
2 years ago

I think McKeon would’ve still dropped the 200 even if there were no semis.

Everything is possible
Reply to  Ragnar
2 years ago

5 individual golds won‘t occur again ?

Are you able to see the future or what ?

Ragnar
Reply to  Everything is possible
2 years ago

With the level of specialization that’ll only increase along with the increased level of athletes that swim now? Nope. 4 individual golds and all four relays maybe if they happen to swim for the right country, but even a Caeleb Dressel likely loses the 100 free if he added 200IM or 200 free(not saying he could be medal worthy in those, calm down other countries). Look at Sarah S, theoretically a player in all 50-200 free and 100 fly, and with a killer backstroke we’ve never seen peaked, or Katie Hoffs program in 2008. Doing it all nowadays at near WR level in 5 events in one week, the depth of the world is deep enough to mess up at… Read more »

Have you ever heard of Usain Bolt
Reply to  Ragnar
2 years ago

Imagine Phelps in 2000 reading what you wrote here, that it’s impossible to surpass Spitz. Non sense.

Guess what, he believed in his plan and did it in 2008. Someone could be now 16 years old and scrolling through those comments and in 2028, he or she will win 10 gold medals ( including 6 individuals). That’s how nature functions. We know, that you’re a Phelps fan. Stop overhyping him too much.

Moreover, luck is also involved in elite sports. Phelps or any athlete continue to swim a certain event, because they have success in it or no on is close to them at the time. If Phelps had Milak or Dressel back then in his fly events, I’m pretty… Read more »

Josh
Reply to  Ragnar
2 years ago

Not sure why you are getting downvoted but you’re right (barring that 0.001% chance). Phelps was a freak of nature in that he had the endurance to handle all the heats and semis. That is insanely hard for anyone to do, and only becoming harder. Maybe if they add all the 50s it’s possible, but the current schedule, I can’t really think of what combination would make it work? They all sound mostly absurd. Maybe a distance womens freestyler who also takes the 400IM? And then they would still need another event.

Sub13
Reply to  Josh
2 years ago

Basically they need to do a double in 2 strokes plus the 2IM. Or the IM double, a stroke double and a stroke 200.

I can’t really see any other way of it playing out.

Realistically, it’s possible that Kaylee could have done the backstroke double and IM double, which would have only left her one gold short.

Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Well, that hurts. Chances are, though, you MRI every elite swimmer in their 20’s and later, they’ve got a terrible-looking rotator cuff and labrum, and some will be completely asymptomatic.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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