From creating world records to securing Olympic gold, Kaylee McKeown has indeed achieved every feat that most athletes dream about. Yet, despite this glittering resume and global stardom, the 23-year-old had taken a decision that has left her fans disheartened. McKeown had announced that she would step back from the 2024 World Short Course Championships. After five relentless years of top-tier competition, innumerable wins, and valuable accolades, it is a mental and physical break that the athlete is craving.

McKeown’s withdrawal had already sent ripples through the swimming world. But what is even more surprising is the underlying struggle that she recently confessed in an interview. The swimmer’s decision to withdraw had already sparked a conversation about the mental well-being of athletes. However, her recent confession has just added more fuel to the fire. Despite her incredible success, McKeown shared that she has long grappled with confidence issues, and she had to fight a battle against one of the most formidable demons, ‘self-doubt’.

Just a few days back, In her recent social media update, she spoke about her decision to withdraw from the competition saying, “It’s not something I wanted to but needed to do”. Following the same, Kaylee McKeown recently sat for a candid conversation with Coleman Hedges of SwimSwam and revealed how doubts often creep in and hamper her self-confidence.

“I struggle as an athlete with confidence quite a lot. I’ve been training the best I hever have, you kind of get those those little doubts that creep in every now and then”, McKeown admitted, revealing that her drive for perfection sometimes overshadows her ability to appreciate her accomplishments. McKeown explained how after constantly analyzing her performances, takes away the feeling of accomplishment.

“It comes back to me always thinking I could have done better. So when I do achieve something, I’m quickly analyzing it, being like, “What could I do? Where can I find point one, point two?” Just being a nerd and I think when you don’t actually take time to appreciate what you have done and you continuously move on to the next thing, you don’t really have the time to sit and get that confidence from your success” Kaylee noted. So she has a plan.

Gain confidence from her own actions- that is how she describes it. “That’s probably one thing that I really want to nail these next four years leading into the games, just continuously working on, trying to build that confidence,” Kaylee said. Seems like LA 2028 is already on the radar! Notably, Kaylee had a lot to say about her coach Michael Bohl, who she affectionately calls ‘Bohly’.

Crediting him for elevating her confidence, Kaylee hailed the honesty of the coach. “Him as a coach he’s just so mellow so levelheaded and he would never never lie to you, like if he thinks you’ve done a good session, he’ll be the first to be like, yeah good job, and you’re like okay thanks but he’s also the first one to be like, yeah no that was average sorry I wish I wish I wish we had more of that,” Kaylee said. Kaylee has been training with Bohl since early 2022. And the two connect quite well.

Bohl has also coached Kaylee’s sister and is quite close to her family. So he is in a position to reveal some intricate details about the swimmer. “She is a bit of an anxious person. It’s just trying to keep her calm,” Bohl had said about Kaylee before Paris. No wonder that anxiety often cripples her. So heading into the Paris Olympics, the coach knew where the success lay for his star student.

“It’s handling the environment. That’s the battle in my mind, it’s the mental challenge, it’s not the physical challenge,” Bohl had said. Seems like, Kaylee managed that pretty well. The results of the Paris Olympics speak for themselves.

She didn’t just defend her titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke but also earned a bronze in the 200-meter medley. Additionally, she played an important part in Australia’s relay victories by contributing to a medal in the women’s 4×100 meter medley and a bronze in the mixed 4×100 meter medley events. Her impressive success in the Olympics has now brought her medal tally to nine. Now that the job is done, she is ready to give some rest to not only her body but her mind also. However, given her self-critical nature, the Olympic journey had to have its fair share of struggles.

McKeown’s journey amid triumph and turmoil in the face of Olympic pressure

Being a world record holder might seem like a dream come true, but for Kaylee McKeown, the weight of that title is more complex—it’s both an honor and a challenge. While it brings a sense of pride, it also carries an ever-present fear of losing the spotlight. Having already faced her share of struggles, McKeown made a conscious decision to prioritize her mental health this time around. Instead of relaxing or living leisurely ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, the Australian swimmer immersed herself in her training—building self-discipline, focus, and resilience to not just compete, but to become an even better athlete.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, the story was different—but equally powerful. Competing at the Women’s 200m Backstroke Final, McKeown delivered a breathtaking performance at the La Defense Arena in Nanterre, setting an Olympic record and capturing gold. It was a moment of sheer triumph, but as the world celebrated, few realized the intense pressure she had faced leading up to that race.

Opening up about the toll of Olympic competition, McKeown described how the relentless schedule and the weight of expectation took a toll on her mental health. Competing at such a high level with the entire world watching isn’t easy, but McKeown found strength in the wisdom shared by her mother. “Live in the moment, cherish the glory,” her mother would tell her. Simple but profound words that helped McKeown stay grounded. It wasn’t about the next race, the next challenge—it was about being present and celebrating each victory as it came.

As she continued to compete, McKeown slowly found her stride, gaining confidence with each win. Titles kept coming, and so did her belief in herself. Hard work began to feel like it was truly paying off, and for the first time, she felt the weight of her triumphs lift, replaced by a sense of relief. The pressure, once almost unbearable, seemed lighter now, transformed by the realization that she was enough, that her dedication was already the victory. But one more challenge emerged as the Olympics wrapped up.

McKeown found it challenging to readjust to life. In an Instagram chat she had with her followers, she shared the ups and downs of her emotions post-event. “It’s been extremely hard coming from such a high-pressure environment,” she revealed.

Reflecting on her achievements, she said, “I did more than I thought I could ever achieve in Paris. Riding the wave of success and enjoyment has come down at some point! Since coming home, I’ve felt very empty and lonely.” As someone who thrives on routine, having no immediate goals or training schedule has been a reality check for her. Taking some time away from competition might make her sync with that reality. May she come back. stronger and better.