Kaylee McKeown Gives Candid Look into 5-Medal Paris Performance, Struggles with Confidence

At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Kaylee McKeown became the first woman to ever win back-to-back Olympic titles in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. She also became Australia’s most successful individual medalist with 4 golds. And surprisingly, she’s just as human as the rest of us.

From how she reflects on Paris, you wouldn’t immediately realize her success there. McKeown is a high achiever and constantly pushing herself to great heights, which she admits can sometimes be a downfall and lead to low self-confidence.

The backstroking legend is candid about how she handled herself throughout the meet, even when fatigue set in the later stage of competition and she earned a bronze medal in the 200 IM because of a DQ.

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges 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.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

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Aquajosh
2 months ago

In a world of elite swimmers who take the media training from their federations way too seriously, Kaylee’s honesty is refreshing. As a result, she was able to have an authentic conversation with Coleman that felt like dropping in on a call between old friends. These are the kinds of interviews I like to watch.

LBSWIM
2 months ago

As an American, I love Kaylee. Comes off beautifully sincere.

Greenangel
2 months ago

Imagine if she wins in LA 2028. A triple double, it will be crazy. And she’ll only be 31 years old in Brisbane 2032. I’m pretty sure she’ll continue until these OG. To end her career in front of her home crowd in Australia will be fantastic like Marchand in Paris 2024 (not the end just the beginning for him) or Ledecky in Los Angeles 2028.

Chlorinetherapy
2 months ago

Great interview! Will there be one with Emma McKeon to hear more of her story?

Dave Loud
2 months ago

Coleman, Great interview!

NotHimAgain
2 months ago

Been hanging out for a Kaylee post-Olympics interview. Now I have one. Thanks, SwimSwam!

Personal Best
2 months ago

When Kaylee achieved the back to back double-double it was obviously a superlative performance.

Now, many recaps later, it’s become more apparent what a huge achievement it is to win 4 Olympic backstroke gold medals… or 4 Olympic backstroke medals of any kind.

Only four female swimmers achieved 4 medals total:
Egerszegi tops the list with 5 backstroke medals (4,1,0)
McKeown second with 4 (4,0,0)
Coventry next with 4 (2,2,0)
and… Masse, the only other swimmer with 4 medals (0,2,2).

Masse doesn’t have the golds that icons like Coughlin, Franklin, Hosszu have, but to win 4 medals is very impressive given the short list of swimmers who have.

Given all this it makes Kaylee’s performance even more impressive.

Last edited 2 months ago by Personal Best
LelloT89
2 months ago

I totally forgot she took part of 2017 world championships as well. I watched some of those finals some months ago and our italian commentator was impressed by her (she finished 4th), saying that with a 16 year old going 2:06 the future of female backstroke was bright. Seven years later it’s pretty safe to say he was right

jeff
Reply to  LelloT89
2 months ago

honestly i always forget she was the silver medalist in 2019 too

LelloT89
Reply to  jeff
2 months ago

Probably because 2019 looked all about Regan Smith, actually she was in that 2017 final too, finishing last, but still impressive for a 15 year old

jeff
Reply to  LelloT89
2 months ago

yeah I remember the interview where Regan talked about how 2017 Worlds was a big motivator for her because she looked up at the scoreboard after her swim and saw that she had finished last

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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