Kaylee McKeown’s classy podium gesture warms hearts across Australia

Kaylee McKeown won gold for the second time in Tokyo and won Australia’s hearts after a classy gesture to fellow Aussie Emily Seebohm.

Kaylee McKeown provided a touching gesture to Emily Seebohm during the medal ceremony for the 200m backstroke.

Australia landed yet another gold medal in the pool on Saturday, with Kaylee McKeown touching the wall first in the 200m backstroke final.

Unlike her first gold medal celebrations, there were no expletives to her family this time.

Compatriot Emily Seebohm claimed the bronze medal, her first individual medal since the London Games nine years ago.

The 29-year-old is just the third Aussie swimmer to compete at four Olympics, and it’s been a bumpy ride at times to get this far. A number of injury and health issues, not to mention a messy relationship breakdown, over the past four years led to an outpouring of emotion in Seebohm’s post-race interview.

McKeown and Seebohm congratulate each other after both medalling in the 200m backstroke final.

“It’s so amazing, I never thought this was going to happen again,” Seebohm said as she wiped away tears.

“I’m not a crier normally, I’m not a crier at all.”

If there were any dry eyes left after watching Seebohm’s interview, there certainly weren’t when it came to the medal ceremony.

As McKeown stood proudly at the top of the podium, she gestured for Seebohm to stand next to her.

Emily Seebohm presents Kaylee McKeown with her gold medal for the 200m backstroke.

Seebohm duly obliged, and presented the 20-year-old with her gold medal, before a lovely embrace as the two stood side-by-side with the national anthem playing.

McKeown expressed her delight at sharing the podium with Seebohm in her post-race interview.

“I had a bit of a tear in my eye, to be honest,” said McKeown.

“Em’s been around for so long and I’ve always spoken so highly of her, I speak of her highly for a reason.

“She deserved to be on that gold medal podium just as much as I did.”

Social media was quick to applaud the pair for the touching moment in Tokyo.

McKeown invites Seebohm to share the top of the podium with her... a lovely touch #Tokyo2020

— Phil Lutton (@phillutton78) July 31, 2021

Kaylee McKeown bringing Emily Seebohm up to the top of the podium for the 🇦🇺 Anthem is just… the understated what our country is all about!

🥇🥉🙌🏽@7olympics#Tokyo2020

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) July 31, 2021

It’s not the first time the Australian swimming team has produced a classy gesture during a medal ceremony in Tokyo.

Significant changes had been made to the medal ceremony process due to the Games’ Covid protocols. Athletes have to present themselves with their medals instead of a dignitary doing the honours.

But for Australia’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, consisting of Cate and Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris, everyone presented each other with their gold medals.

Channel 7 commentator Basil Zempilas labelled the gesture a “classy” move.

The women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team won gold yet again.