Four-time Olympic gold medallist in the pool Kaylee McKeown withdraws from swimming’s World Cup over mental health concerns

The first and only Australian to win four individual gold medals at the Olympics, Kaylee McKeown, has decided to take a sudden, immediate break from swimming putting her wellbeing first.

Australian Olympic swimming champion Kaylee McKeown has pulled out of the lucrative World Cup meet in China after winning her opening race in spectacular fashion, saying she needed an immediate break for mental health reasons.

Australia’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony for this year’s Paris Olympics, McKeown has been unbeatable in the backstroke for the past four years but also increasingly vocal about the pressure she’s felt at always being expected to win.

Australian flag bearers Kaylee McKeown and Matt Wearn during the Paris Olympic Games Closing Ceremony. Picture: Pete Dovgan/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The 23-year-old had already withdrawn from this year’s short-course world championships in Budapest for her own wellbeing but had planned to swim the World Cup, which includes legs in China, Korea and Singapore, saying she was looking forward to “competing freely with no pressure.”

The 23-year-old got off to a flying start when she broke the Oceania and Australian short-course records to win the 50m backstroke final in Shanghai on Friday before announcing the next morning that she was heading straight home for a break.

“I would like to thank World Aquatics for the opportunity to come out and race at World Cups, it’s been so much fun here in Shanghai,” she wrote on Instagram.

“Putting my mental health first I’ve decided to cut my experience short. As an athlete It’s so important to listen to your heart and to know when enough is enough.

“Time for a well overdue break. Peace and love to you all.”

The first and only Australian to win four individual gold medals at the Olympics. McKeown’s incredible feats in the pool often mask the incredible burden all elite swimmers carry to perform at the highest level.

A self-confessed perfectionist, she’s been racking up an incredible list of victories at Olympics, world championships and Commonwealth Games, but has also spoken about the toll it’s had on her mind and wellbeing.

In an exclusive interview with this masthead in Paris, she revealed she felt like she had let the country down by not swimming her best times even though she successfully defended the 100m and 200m backstroke titles she won at the Tokyo Olympics.

McKeown after going back-to-back in the 100 metres backstroke in Paris. Picture: Michael Klein

Withdrawing from the World Cup would not have been an easy decision for McKeown after she was crowned series champion last year, earning $275,000 including bonus for breaking world records.

After years of struggling to make ends meet, swimmers are able to make a good living from all the riches on offer in overseas races but get little rest time, often leading to burnout.

McKeown’s social media account was flooded by messages from swimmers and fans all over the world.

Mollie O’Callaghan, her teammate and close personal friend, replied: “Congrats on an amazing season! We’re all so proud of you. Now it’s time to enjoy some well-deserved rest.”

Another Dolphin who won gold in Paris, Lani Pallister, posted two messages, “So proud of you” and “Slay means I get to see you sooner.”

Originally published as Four-time Olympic gold medallist in the pool Kaylee McKeown withdraws from swimming’s World Cup over mental health concerns