Kaylee McKeown has been on a record-breaking streak since her two Golds at the 2024 Paris Olympics. And if that wasn’t enough, Kaylee has set the new short-course world record in the 100m backstroke. She clocked 54.56 seconds during the Australian Short Course Championships held outside Adelaide. The time set not only breaks the previous record of 54.89 seconds set by Australian Minna Atherton in 2019. But it also re-establishes McKeown’s as one of the greatest in the pool!

Yet, despite her wins, McKeown now faces the challenging reality of coming down from the high of her wins. “I had some solid downtime after the Olympics and only decided to do the Short Course at the last minute,” she shared, talking about the mental space she is in currently. However, keeping the humility alive, she went on and added, “It’s been fun and very humbling to go to training and not make it through some sessions.”

Kaylee also went on to talk about her Olympic experience. An experience that seemed brilliant to the world but had something more brewing behind the curtains. “It’s been great…the Olympics has been a huge whirlwind…and something I never thought I would be able to achieve.” The joy of standing on the podium is one that is inexplicable. Kaylee, however, candidly pointed out, “People don’t realize just how much of a high it is and then to come back down again.” She also went on to emphasize how overwhelming the rollercoaster of emotions can be. “It has been a struggle, and I have been pretty open with that.”

But despite it all, swimming is still Kaylee’s refuge. “But like I said, I’m here swimming, so it’s making me a bit happy,” she added. As McKeown navigates the exhilarating highs of her career, she is equally aware of the depths she has overcome. The tightrope she walks between winning and dealing with the spirit of winning is what shapes her narrative. Despite the joy and solace she finds in the water, the competitive fire within Kaylee continues to burn. And it also pushes her not just to break records but settle scores on the way.

Kaylee settles rivalries along her record-breaking journey.

Breaking records has become habitual to Kaylee McKeown, and 2024 has been no different. The recent short-course 100m backstroke world record was a mere reaffirmation of the same. McKeown’s story transcends the boundaries of numbers and epitomizes her pursuit of greatness. And amidst the creation of one of the greatest legacies also lies rivalries that were settled fair and square with rapid strokes in the pool.

The James Moriarty of Kaylee’s life is none other than the ever-so-competitive American swimmer Regan Smith. Their rivalry is one that turned into a thrilling subplot in the world of swimming. Kaylee McKeown held the record for 100m backstroke world record until June during the U.S. Swimming Trials. At the trials, Regan went on to beat Kaylee’s previous record.

The two have been going back and forth, making and breaking records since 2019. However, Kaylee, without wasting any time, started plotting her comeback. She came back to defend her Tokyo Olympic record title. And defend she did! Kaylee, during the Paris Olympics 200m backstroke final, went on to clock 57.33, beating Regan’s previous record of 57.66. Kaylee did not just set a world record, she also became the second woman, after American Natalie Coughlin, in all of history to repeat gold in the event.

As of now, Kaylee holds the long course 50m Backstroke record, which she set during the World Cup event in Budapest, Hungary 2023, clocking 26.86 seconds. She also holds the long course 200m Backstroke record set at the 2023 New South Wales State Open Championships, clocking a time of 2:03.14. She broke the previous record by Regan Smith by 0.21 seconds. Additionally, Kaylee has a total of five Olympic golds, one silver, and three bronzes. If there’s one thing these numbers tell us, it is that Kaylee McKeown’s journey of settling rivalries by breaking records shall only continue!