Five things to know about swimming sensation Kaylee McKeown

Kaylee McKeown is the name on everyone’s mind in swimming, after her record-breaking exploits at the Australian Olympic Trials.

The Queenslander made her senior international debut at the 2017 World Championships as a 15-year-old, narrowly missing out on a medal but setting a new 200m backstroke world junior record.

A year later, she won 50m back gold at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, before sealing her first major medal - silver in the 200m backstroke - at the 2019 World Champs in Gwangju.

Not even the coronavirus pandemic could slow McKeown’s progress. In November 2020, she broke Katinka Hosszu’s 200m short course 200m back world record at a virtual event Down Under. It was a performance that saw SwimSwam label McKeown as ‘One of the most impressive swimmers the world has ever seen’.

There were high expectations on the 19-year-old's shoulders at the recent Aussie Olympic Trials, and she didn’t disappoint, winning the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley.

But it was the 100 back performance, where she broke fellow teenager Regan Smith’s world record, that made the world sit up and notice. McKeown’s 57.45-second swim was a whole tenth of a second quicker than her American rival’s previous best, and sets up what should be a fascinating showdown at the Tokyo Olympics.

But how well do you know the aquatics prodigy, who is at the forefront of a potential new golden era in Australian swimming?

1 - Strong family sporting genes

Kaylee isn’t the only one with strong aquatic DNA in her family.

Her talented older sister Taylor also represents Australia, and won 200m breaststroke gold at the 2015 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. A year later, she helped her nation to 4x100m medley relay silver at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Unsurprisingly, Kaylee lists Taylor as one of her early inspirations in the sport.

Imagine how intense family competitions were in the McKeown household as they were growing up!

2 - Succeeding with asthma

As well as being blessed with athletic talent, they also both suffer from asthma.

The McKeowns were diagnosed with the breathing condition at a young age, but through education and a well-managed medication programme, it has amazingly never hindered their athletic ability.

Keen to show other children in Australia that they too can flourish with asthma, the sisters are ambassadors for Asthma Australia, a body dedicated to educating and helping others with the condition.

“A lot of people think asthma is a debilitating lung disease that stops you from doing any exercise, that’s not true. For most people, if you get the right treatment and stick to it, you can do anything,” Kaylee told the AA website.

“When you’re swimming at a high level it can be difficult, you have to monitor your medication, what doses you can take, so we help each other out with that.”

3 - Motivated by family tragedy

Kaylee McKeown’s achievements in the pool over the past few years have been astonishing, given the heartache she has also had to process.

Her father, Sholto, died in August 2020 at the age of 53 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. He was instrumental in his daughters’ career, teaching them the importance of seizing their opportunities.

McKeown said the Olympic Games being postponed due to Covid was a 'blessing in disguise' as they allowed her to spend time with her father before he died.

“It’s made me realise how much life is worth living,” McKeown told the Sydney Morning Herald. “I just take every day as it comes and I honestly think that’s the main reason I’m swimming as well as I am. There’s no point in wasting the opportunities that you have in life.

“He’s my big inspiration and I use him in the last 50 of the race to help me cross the line because I know he is there.”

McKeown has the words “I’ll always be with you” tattooed on her foot, as a reminder of her father whenever she lifts up on the backstroke start blocks.

4 - Unique 17-day training cycles

Most swimmers will tell you that taking four days out of the pool is akin to sacrilege, as it only takes 48 hours to lose their feel for the water. 

But not Mckeown and her training mates. They work off a 17-day on, 4-day off schedule, designed and implemented by Chris Mooney  Chris Mooney (head coach of University of Sunshine Coast in Australia) and Mark McKean (head of physical performance at University of Sunshine Coast)

“We started it at the start of 2018 and tried it at 2019 worlds and as a team we agreed that we like it, something different, something challenging, and that we are just going to keep going with it until someone gets sick of it!” McKeown told SwimSwam.

The coaches applied traditional physiological science to a new structure that they believe gives them more time to implement their programme, and also ensures that the swimmers receive adequate rest.

5 - Regan Smith shows love

Despite McKeown breaking Smith’s 100m backstroke record, the American was quick to show her respect through a text.

“She (Regan) messaged me, I said all the best for her US trials. No doubt they’ll be really fast over there,” McKeown revealed.

After punching her own ticket to Tokyo in the 100m back at USA Trials, Smith said, “I was honestly very happy for her (McKeown). I mean, she’d been very close to it multiple times, and so it was cool to see her grab it. We have a great relationship. We don’t know each other super well, but I always send her a congratulatory text.

"I was really genuinely honestly happy for her, and then it inspired me because I’ve had a tough year, I’ve had my fair share of bad swims this year, and seeing her do so amazing over this whole pandemic has been extremely inspiring."

While the 100m freestyle is traditionally viewed as swimming’s blue-riband event, Smith and McKeown are at the forefront of a backstroke revolution that could be the most competitive and exciting event of Tokyo 2020.