Emma McKeon’s reaction to her record sixth gold medal speaks volumes about the champion

In 2012, a teenage Emma McKeon nearly gave swimming away. Twelve years later, on day one of the Paris Olympics, she became Australia’s most prolific gold medallist.

It seems in keeping with her understated manner that McKeon’s milestone was reached not with an individual triumph, but rather for her role swimming the third leg for the victorious women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team alongside Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack and Meg Harris.

This juggernaut of the pool could be forgiven a little celebration after edging ahead of fellow swimmer Ian Thorpe and becoming the first Australian to win six gold medals, but McKeon said she wasn’t one for chasing records, but was honoured by the achievement.

McKeon has also won more Olympic medals than any other Australian, with 12. Thorpe and Liesel Jones, a breaststroke specialist, have nine medals each.

“I don’t keep track of that kind of stuff,” McKeon said when told she was Australia’s most prolific gold medallist.

“Everyone wants to be part of this 4x100m, I feel really honoured to be part of it,” she said.

“It’s definitely been a rough couple of years, especially this year. So I definitely had my doubts. I just really wanted to be part of this team.”

Thorpe and his commentary colleague, former swimmer Giaan Rooney, were more effusive.

“It’s great,” he said in commentary on Nine. “Couldn’t happen to a better person, really.

“She is the most successful swimmer, the most successful Olympian, in our country.

Olympic legend Emma McKeon.Credit: Getty

“She should be celebrated for the person that she is, what she’s been able to deliver for the sport.”

Rooney added: “That is what we have come to love about Emma — she doesn’t look at records or the big milestones.

“For her, it’s about swimming the best she can every single time she gets in the water. She was quite emotional after the relay tonight.

“She was almost taking it all in, knowing this is her last Olympics, the last time we will see her in the pool. It really felt like it sunk in for the first time. It was magical to watch.”

There’s a chance McKeon, who had injury concerns during her Paris preparation, could move further in front of her compatriots on the list of Olympic medal winners. She is likely to also feature in the 4x100m medley relay and the 4x100 mixed medley relay. Her only individual event in Paris is the women’s 100m butterfly.

A dozen years earlier, McKeon narrowly missed selection for the London Games and considered retiring from the sport. Now, she is the Young Australian of the Year and has more medals in her trophy cabinet than any other Australian: six gold, two silver and four bronze, won during three Olympic Games. Add to that five world titles and 14 Commonwealth Games gold medals. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, she became the first female swimmer and the second woman in history to win seven medals in a single games.

“If I look back at that young (person) - I think I was 17 when I missed London - you couldn’t have told her that I was going to go on to do this,” she said.

“It’s just persisting, you have up and you have downs. You just keep going along and you keep ticking the boxes. I can’t believe where I’m at right now.”

McKeon celebrates victory in the 4x100m freestyle relay with teammate Meg Harris.Credit: Getty Images

Her partner, singer-turned-swimmer Cody Simpson, gushed after the milestone win.

“We are all proud of her,” he said.

“She’ll be so humble about it. She’ll never say it herself, but it’s pretty special what she’s done.

“It’s unreal. She had a blistering swim this morning - she really wanted to be in that final and get on that podium... I’m so proud of her for getting that done.”

But there is little mystery for McKeon about why the Australian 4x100 freestyle women have won the last four Olympic gold medals.

“As the years go on, the standard gets higher and higher. You look at the history of this event for Australia, everyone wants to be part of that,” she said.

“The bar keeps raising, that’s probably what brings the strength to this team.”

Born and raised in Wollongong, McKeon is swimming royalty. Her parents, Ron McKeon and Susie Woodhouse, both swam for Australia as did her brother David and her uncle Rob Woodhouse.

AAP