‘No one has ever done this’: Kaylee McKeown wins gold, becomes ‘greatest ever’

Kaylee McKeown has blown away her opposition, and blown the minds of observers, with a feat unmatched by any other swimmer in history.

Australia's Kaylee McKeown celebrates after victory in the final of the women's 100m backstroke swimming event during the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka on July 25, 2023. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)

Australia’s Kaylee McKeown has bounced back from a brutal disqualification, winning the 100m backstroke at the world swimming championships to lay claim to being the greatest backstroker of all time.

McKeown was sensationally disqualified in the semi-finals of the 200m individual medley in her first event of the program in a contentious ruling by officials that has come under scrutiny.

The 22-year-old was upset with the disqualification and vowed to bounce back in her favoured backstroke events. And she has done just that.

NETBALL WORLD CUP | Watch the Origin Diamonds opening match vs. Zimbabwe Friday 28 July at 7PM AEST FREE & LIVE on Kayo Freebies. Join now and start streaming instantly >

In the 100m backstroke final, McKeown powered past her American rival Regan Smith over the final lap to claim gold in a championship record time of 57.53, just a fraction outside her own world record.

Smith finished second in 57.78 and fellow American Katherine Berkoff was third in 58.25.

Australia's Kaylee McKeown might just be the greatest backstroker we’ve ever seen. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP)

Kaylee McKeown is the undisputed queen of world backstroke. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

The victory means McKeown has completed the ‘grand slam’ of swimming by winning the 100m backstroke at the world long and short course championships, Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games.

She is the first swimmer to holds all of these titles simultaneously, and is also the world record holder in both the 100m and 200m backstroke.

After a "controversial" DQ took her out of the running for gold in the Women's 200 IM, Australia's Kaylee McKeown bounces back and gets it done in the Women's 100 backstroke final 😤

🥇 Kaylee McKeown - 57.53
🥈 Regan Smith - 57.78
🥉 Katharine Berkoff - 58.25 pic.twitter.com/Del97SQ52c

— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) July 25, 2023

Big bounceback from Kaylee McKeown after the 200 IM DQ to win the 100 back in a new Championship Record. #Fukuoka2023

— Braden Keith (@Braden_Keith) July 25, 2023

Impressive swim from Australia's Kaylee McKeown to take gold in the 100m backstroke at the world champs, in a champs-record breaking time. Currently holds the world record, Olympic, Comm Games and now world champs title. Dominant.

— Kieran Pender (@KieranPender) July 25, 2023

Commentator Mat Thompson said on Channel 9: “She is the greatest we have seen. And she is the undisputed backstroke champion of the world!

“What a special athlete. That is as good as anything as we have seen.

“What a race. What a finish. Kaylee McKeown, there is no nothing she has not won in the 100 and 200 backstroke and she writes her name in history. And maybe she is the greatest we have ever seen.

“No one has ever done this. No-one has ever won every backstroke title available and she has done it at the same time. It is simultaneous.”

McKeown bounced back from the disqualification in style. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Ian Thorpe said: “She is just extraordinary.”

Giaan Rooney said the disqualification may well have given McKeown an extra ounce of motivation to win gold.

“I don’t think Kaylee ever needs a bee in the bonnet but that disqualification certainly wouldn’t have done any harm,” Rooney said.

Asked about the disqualification in the medley, McKeown said she had no choice but to move on from it and focus on other events.

“I am sure there is worse I have had to deal with but it is definitely something I have learnt from and not to take it so emotionally and just forget about it,” she told Channel 9.

It was Australia’s fifth gold medal of the world swimming championships after the Aussies claimed a historic haul of four golds on the opening night in Japan.

Earlier on Tuesday, Lani Pallister finished fifth in the 1500m freestyle behind Katie Ledecky, who dominated the field to equal Michael Phelps’ record for the most individual world titles.