By Tom Decent
Singapore: About four weeks ago, Australian swimming great Kaylee McKeown dislocated her shoulder.
As a backstroker – arguably the greatest female to swim the stroke in history – that is a major problem.
At these world championships in Singapore, everything was stacked against McKeown’s bid to win yet another gold medal in the women’s 100m backstroke.
A shoulder problem. Other niggles. A case of the post-Olympic blues. Questioning her love for the sport. Changing training programs.
It didn’t matter. It never does.
McKeown produced one of the swims of her life to beat her own Australian record and deliver yet another psychological blow to her American rival Regan Smith, before following up with an ice-cold quote that epitomises her ruthless edge.
Kaylee McKeown gives a thumbs after winning gold in the women’s 100m backstroke final.Credit: Getty Images
McKeown (57.16) lowered her personal best by 0.17 seconds – a decent margin in a race that length – to edge out Smith (57.35) and set a new Commonwealth record. Smith led at the turn, but McKeown stormed home for a famous win, just 0.03 seconds outside Smith’s world record.
It marks the fourth time McKeown has beaten Smith in a global final, following victories in Tokyo (2021), Fukuoka (2023), Paris (2024) and now Singapore.
McKeown was asked if she felt for Smith, given her dominance over such a long period?
“Not at all,” McKeown dead-panned. “That’s swimming and the nature of it. You’ve got to be competitive and get up there.
Australian Kaylee McKeown, centre, with Regan Smith and Katharine Berkoff after winning gold in the women’s 100m backstroke at the world swimming championships. Credit: AP
“It she beats me, she would feel the same way. It’s just what happens. People beat people.”
Public expectation and the pressure to keep winning has weighed down the five-time Olympic gold medallist. The stress of a shoulder problem in the lead-up to the world championships only exacerbated those nerves.
This masthead revealed before Tuesday night’s final that McKeown’s camp had been keeping her injury quiet. Her ultra-flexible stroke technique, while a strength, can also leave her vulnerable to problems when the joint slips out.
McKeown’s shoulder has been irritated for weeks, but her medical team worked overtime to get her on the blocks. To get up and not only win, but slash her personal best, shows just how tough she is.
Kaylee McKeown hugs her coach Michael Sage after her victory in Singapore. Credit: AP
“I popped my shoulder out two weeks before flying up to Darwin, so I’m just trying to manage that and make sure it’s not going to be an ongoing thing,” McKeown told this masthead before her race. “I have a few little injuries as well, so I’ve just got to really manage myself so I can make it to the LA Olympics.
“It’s been a prep that I’m not used to. I haven’t trained as much as what I would have liked to, but I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. Coming into these championships, I just want to enjoy myself.”
McKeown is a dogged swimmer. Get her in a race with anyone and few in world swimming are as unstoppable.
Her dominance in the 100m backstroke at international level continues, with Smith again walking away wondering how she didn’t win.
Smith said she was happy with her swim but brought up the fact a number of American athletes had come down with gastro last week.
“America as a whole had the odds stacked against us,” Smith said. “We had a really unfortunate situation happen to us during a training camp and I did not think I was going to go 57.35.
“I think I did an incredible job, especially under the circumstances.”
McKeown had scratched the 50m backstroke from her program – an event she likely would have won – and had to be convinced to swim the 100m.
The 24-year-old, now Australia’s most successful Olympian in terms of individual gold medals, admits the sport hasn’t always felt fun in recent times.
“I’m just really, really proud,” McKeown told reporters after her race. “It’s a little bit emotional. I’ve worked so hard to get myself up into a happy state.
“It just goes to show that a happy summer is a fast swimmer.
“I wasn’t expecting to do a PB [personal best] tonight. You never know when you are going to swim fast. I’m just thankful that it was today.”
Despite her achievements, McKeown is still partial to flicking through comments sections on social media. When she withdrew from the 50m event, keyboard warriors suggested she was scared to lose.
They obviously don’t know her.
“That’s not the case at all. If anything, I’m scared to fail myself,” McKeown said.
“I’ve worked really, really hard to get up there tonight and prove to myself that I am a good athlete, I’m a good swimmer, and it doesn’t matter if I come first or last.
“I just didn’t want to keep steering away from fear because the more that you create, it becomes a bit like a monster. You’ve got to chase the demons at some point.”
McKeown and Smith will meet again in the 200m backstroke heats on Friday morning.
Underestimate a champion at your peril.
“How amazing was Kaylee,” said teammate Mollie O’Callaghan after qualifying second-fastest for Wednesday night’s 200m final. “I think she is an absolute beast.”
Meanwhile, Lani Pallister picked up a bronze medal in the women’s 1500m freestyle after trying to take on USA great Katie Ledecky in a fast start.
Pallister (15:41.18) was in second place and under world record pace at the 600-metre mark but finished third, 15 seconds behind Ledecky (15:26.44), who won her sixth world title in the event.
“I only race Katie three more times in the 1500m before the LA Olympics,” Pallister said. “I was just trying to stick with her for as long as I can and see how long I could hold on for.”
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