‘Give them a big FU’: Kaylee McKeown fuming at ‘completely unfair’ disqualification

Australian Kaylee McKeown was left upset at a disqualification that cruelled her hopes of a gold at the world swimming championships.

Australia’s Kaylee McKeown said Monday that she was determined to bounce back after being disqualified in her 200m individual medley semi-final at the world championships in Japan.

McKeown was thrown out of the race in Fukuoka on Sunday night after judges ruled that she had made an illegal move as she transitioned from backstroke to breaststroke by rolling too far over before touching the wall.

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She was one of three swimmers to be disqualified from the same race, alongside Britain’s Katie Shanahan and Italy’s Sara Franceschi.

Making the disqualification even hard to swallow was the fact McKeown was considered a genuine chance for gold in the 200m IM after Canadian Summer McIntosh pulled out of the event.

McKeown qualified second-fastest in the 100m backstroke heats on Monday morning but she was still upset about what had happened the previous night.

Here's the turn that caused the DQ for Kaylee McKeown... pic.twitter.com/Cd6HnqV832

— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) July 23, 2023

“It’s sport, and that’s what happens in sport,” she said.

“I didn’t see my turn last night but when I saw it this morning I thought it was completely unfair … sh*t happens.”

“Unfortunately, some people get dealt the bad hand and I just got that bad hand.

“It’s just a matter of trying to flip it into a positive and give them a big FU.”

McKeown said she had “a bit of a cry” after watching the footage, and admitted that the incident was still playing on her mind.

Australia’s head coach Rohan Raylor said: “It’s done, they say no, they upheld it. I disagree 100 per cent. but I don’t think it’s definitive. That’s what we protested on

“I’ve watched the video … It’s about the angle. I said I don’t think it’s definitive and that’s what we protested but they said they’re standing by it.

Kaylee McKeown was a chance for gold in the 200m medley. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“At the end of the day, that’s the rules. They have that in place, they don’t want you to roll past the 90 degree. I disagreed but the rules are the rules.

“They have cameras on every lane. That’s why it’s taking so much time in the heats, because they’re reviewing everything, looking at things.

“It’s absolutely going to be the world we live in now. That’s where it’s going to be … She’ll learn from it. She’s got to move on to the next thing.”

McKeown said she “can’t really waste time” as she looks to make an impact in her other events in Fukuoka.

“There’s Americans and Canadians coming left, right and centre,” she said.

“I’ve got to put my best foot forward and see where that gets me over the next two days.”

McKeown is expected to duke it out with American Regan Smith for the 100 backstroke title, with the semi-finals to come on Monday evening.

Smith swam the fastest time in the heats, coming home in 58.47sec, followed by McKeown at 58.90 and American Katharine Berkoff at 59.04.

McKeown is the Olympic champion in both the 100m and 200m backstroke.