Emma McKeon couldn’t hold back the tears after a disappointing final

AUSSIE swimmer Emma McKeon was distraught after the 100m butterfly final, fighting back tears following an Olympic nightmare.

McKeon stuggled to hold back the tears.

THE Olympics can make an athlete’s wildest dreams come true. They can also crush them mercilessly.

Aussie swimmer Emma Mckeon found this out the hard way.

She won gold with the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team on Sunday (AEST), but it was a case of ecstasy to agony for the 22-year-old, who finished seventh in the 100m butterfly final on Monday after qualifying second fastest.

She started slowly and trailed away in the second 50m to finish more than 1.5 seconds behind the winner.

She was well beaten by Swedish favourite Sarah Sjostrom, who beat her own world record with a time of 55.48 seconds, to win gold.

McKeon was distraught during her poolside post-race interview with Channel 7 after swimming well below her best.

She was unable to answer reporter Nathan Templeton when asked what she thought of her swim, clearly fighting back tears.

“That was bad,” she said.

When told she could keep her head high, McKeon could only manage to say “thankyou” before she quickly walked away from the interview.

McKeon was well supported on social media by a nation of fans still determinedly proud of her performance in Rio.

She was also praised for her sportsmanship towards Sjostrom.

#AUS @emma_mckeon 7th, but a winner for being a great sport, embracing new WR holder Sarah Sjöström @AUSOlympicTeam pic.twitter.com/9qi6tont4q

— Daniel Sutton (@danielsutton10) August 8, 2016

Tough final @emma_mckeon - still so much for you to achieve this Olympics. We are all behind you 🇦🇺💚💛 #AUS

— Steven Solomon (@stevesolo10) August 8, 2016

Young @emma_mckeon riding the Olympic roller coaster these past 2 days. Hold your head up girl, you always do us proud #Rio2016

— Alice Tait (@Alice_Tait) August 8, 2016

Great swim @emma_mckeon be proud of your result! Chin up and enjoy the rest of the meet #Rio2016 @DolphinsAUS https://t.co/RzBicO1ykD

— Matt Haanappel OAM (@MattHaanappel) August 8, 2016

Oh @emma_mckeon, keep that gorgeous smile on your face. Not the result you wanted but you're an Olympic finalist with main event to come! 🇦🇺

— Melanie Wright OAM (@mel_wright) August 8, 2016

It was heartbreaking to see @emma_mckeon post race interview on @7olympics, you did very good girl, thank u, we are Proud #Rio2016 #Olympics

— Chintan Dave (@chintandave11) August 8, 2016

OH MY HEART is breaking. The beautiful Emma didn't swim well in her final and she was so upset with herself 😭

— Wentworth_Memes (@schmizo) August 8, 2016

@LynneMcGranger @emma_mckeon @7olympics she did Aust proud. I hope she's alright. I cried for her in that interview.

— Wentworth_Memes (@schmizo) August 8, 2016

In her debut appearance at an Olympics, McKeon’s time of 57.05 seconds wasn’t fast enough to challenge for a podium finish.

Canadian Penny Oleksiak came second and American Dana Vollmer finished with the bronze.

Originally published as Emma McKeon couldn’t hold back the tears after a disappointing final