The Australian’s Australian of the Year: Emma McKeon in the swim for award

A stunning performance in the pool at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games instantly made swimmer Emma McKeon a household name.

Australian swimmer Emma McKeon won a total of seven medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, including 4 gold. Picture: Getty Images

A stunning performance in the pool at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games made swimmer Emma McKeon a household name and cemented her position as the country’s greatest Olympian.

The 27-year-old Golden Girl swam away with seven medals – four gold, three bronze – to become the equal most-decorated female athlete at a single Olympic Games, on par with Soviet Union gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya at the 1952 Games.

Her incredible performance has earned McKeon a nomination for The Australian’s Australian of the Year

“Looking back … it was a lot … it was crazy … 90 races cross Olympics, ISL (International Swimming League) and World Cups,” she said on reflection of the past 12 months in an interview with News Corp last month.

McKeon, alongside her formidable teammates Bronte Campbell, Cate Campbell and Meg Harris, provided one of the most exciting moments of Games when they smashed their own world record when taking gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay. They were the first team ever to go under 3:30.

The wins added McKeon’s four medals at the 2016 Rio Games to bring her career tally to 11, the most of any Australian athlete.

It places her now well ahead of the swimming greats Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones, who each have nine.

Readers are encouraged to submit a nomination for The Australian’s Australian of the Year. Prominent Australians can be nominated by filling out the form, or emailing to [e-mail]. Nominations close on Friday, January 21.