Kaylee McKeown headlines swimming awards, Tim Hodge, Moesha Johnson recognised

Superstar swimmer Kaylee McKeown has taken out Swimming Australia’s biggest award while Tim Hodge, Moesha Johnson and coach Dean Boxall are all given top honours.

Olympic hero Kaylee McKeown has another prize to add to her trophy cabinet after taking the top gong at Swimming Australia’s annual awards.

McKeown, the first Australian to win gold medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke at successive Olympic Games, now has nine career Olympic medals to her name.

Equal with Ian Thorpe and second only to Emma McKeon.

The Queenslander beat a stellar field of Olympic champions including Mollie O’Callaghan, Ariarne Titmus and Cameron McEvoy to the coveted title of Olympic Program Swimmer of the Year.

It adds to the long list of accomplishments McKeown has celebrated this year including being the first Australian to win four individual Olympic gold medals and having the honour of carrying the flag at the Closing Ceremony.

Olympic Swimmer of the Year, Kaylee McKeown. Picture: Michael Klein

She returned from the Paris Games with five medals – two gold, one silver and two bronze.

McKeown also broke the women’s 50m backstroke world record last October – it made her the first person to hold the world record in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke events.

Timothy Hodge took the top honours for the Paralympic Program and Moesha Johnson was dubbed the top open water swimmer of the year – at the awards ceremony at Howard Smith Wharves on Saturday.

Hodge, a three-time Paralympian, had an incredibly busy program in Paris – winning gold in the men’s 200m individual medley SM9, another in the mixed 4x100m medley relay and a silver in the men’s 100m butterfly S9.

It capped off a brilliant cycle for the 23-year-old, who won back to back world championships in 2022.

Timothy Hodge was awarded top Paralympic honours. Picture: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Johnson, 26, finished second in the women’s 10km marathon swim in Paris and then backed it up to race the 1500m in the pool.

Swimming Australia CEO Rob Woodhouse said he was “incredibly proud” of the trio.

“We are so very fortunate to have such great ambassadors for our sport that represent our values of courage, unity and excellence – and an Olympic and Paralympic campaign is the sternest test you can face as an athlete,” Woodhouse said.

“I am not sure perfection is attainable, but if we chase perfection we catch excellence and these three are among the very best.

“The Dolphins have had an incredible year of success; for the Olympic team – it was the closest we have come to matching the Americans in 68 years, going one better than Tokyo, where two gold medals separated us from the USA – and we had our best performance in Open Water.

“And for our Paralympic team, every single male athlete won a medal and we finished a terrific seventh in what is shaping as a formidable team ahead of LA – where planning has already started.

Women's 10km silver medallist Moesha Johnson took out the top open water swimmer. Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

“Our Dolphins continue to set the standard and in doing so, inspires the next generation. Today is a fitting celebration of what our athletes – and high performance programs – have achieved.”

Other award winners include Dean Boxall – named Olympic Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.

Callum Simpson, 17, won the Flipper’s Paralympic Program Athlete of the Year and the AIS Discovery of the year on the back of his efforts at his first Paralympics.

Paralympian Emily Beecroft, who won gold as part of the 4x100m medley relay and a bronze in the women’s 100m butterfly S9, was voted as the Swimmers’ Swimmer.

Originally published as Kaylee McKeown headlines swimming awards, Tim Hodge, Moesha Johnson recognised