Just a few weeks ago, Kaylee McKeown was riding high after winning gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke at the Paris Olympics before getting a silver with 2 bronzes. But now the 23-year-old has dropped a bit of a bombshell by announcing her withdrawal from December’s World Short Course Championships in Budapest. This news comes just days after the Dolphins team of 24 was revealed. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she explained, “Today I made the decision to pull out of the 2024 World Short course team, it’s not something I wanted to do but needed to do.”

Kaylee opened up about the intense pressure she’s felt over the past five years, both physically and mentally. She emphasized the importance of taking a break from the constant hype and adrenaline that come with competition. While she’s stepping back from the World Short Course Championships, she’s still planning to compete in the World Cups coming up in just a few weeks.

McKeown’s excited about this opportunity to swim without the added pressure. Just last week, she even set her sixth world record in the 100m backstroke at the Australian Short Course Championships! The World Cups will kick off in Asia, starting in Shanghai on October 18-20 and then heading to Incheon, South Korea, on October 24-26. Despite having qualified for the December World Short Course Championships in Budapest due to her stellar Olympic performances, McKeown mentioned last month that she was still undecided about participating in Hungary. This opportunity to swim freely might just be what she needs to recharge and focus on her love for the sport.

“I’ll see how I feel after the World Cups (in October-November)… and see if I want to do the world short-course in December. But I’m not putting any pressure on myself,” McKeown said. As the current world record holder in the short-course 200m backstroke, she’s set to race in that event in Adelaide. However, after the intense highs of her double gold at the Paris Olympics, she’s been grappling with feelings of loneliness and emptiness.

Kaylee McKeown’s Olympic legacy—a double-edged sword

Kaylee McKeown had a good time at the Paris Olympics! She didn’t just maintain her titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events but also earned a bronze medal in the 200-meter medley—a fantastic addition to her already impressive achievements at the games! 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 medals, in total—three of which are gold from the recent Tokyo Games!

After the Olympics, the excitement wore off, though McKeown found it challenging to readjust to life in an Instagram chat she had with her followers, where 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. She reflected on her incredible achievements, saying, “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.

McKeown felt incredibly proud to represent Australia as the flag bearer at the closing ceremony in Paris after her performance and leadership at the Olympics; however, she mentioned that the period after the games can be quite demanding both emotionally and physically. “Racing can become extremely draining emotionally and physically!” she noted during her Q&A.

McKeown expressed how amazed she was by her performances, particularly highlighting her admiration for the Australian team. If she had to pinpoint a highlight from Paris, it was the overwhelming sense of joy and relief that came with their achievements. Swimming truly shone as Australia’s standout sport during the Olympics, with the team bringing home an impressive 19 medals—seven gold, nine silver, and three bronze. While the U.S. topped the overall medal count with 28, McKeown’s two golds played a pivotal role in Australia’s outstanding success.