Australia's McKeown, McEvoy win historic Olympic golds

Kaylee McKeown celebrates her historic gold medal at the Paris Olympics. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

Not in a million years did Kaylee McKeown expect to create history as the first Australian to win four individual Olympic gold medals.

McKeown and compatriot Cameron McEvoy claimed landmark victories in a 10-minute gold rush for Australia at the Paris pool on Friday night.

McEvoy, 30, saluted in the men's 50m freestyle to become Australia's oldest Olympic swimming gold medallist.

Minutes later, McKeown triumphed in the women's 200m backstroke to her  double delight.

She's not just only the first Australian Olympic with four individual golds, but the only swimmer to successfully defend Olympic 100m and 200m backstroke titles.

"Not in a million years ... I couldn't ask for much more," McKeown said of her medal haul.

But ask again, she will.

On Saturday night, the 23-year-old is hunting more gold in the 200m individual medley - she qualified for that final just one hour after her historic 200m backstroke triumph.

"I didn't think I would make the final so I'm super-stoked to be a part of that and just have fun with it tomorrow," she said.

McKeown now has five golds in her Olympic career, with a women's 4x100m medley victory at the Tokyo Games three years ago among her collection.

Fellow swimmer Emma McKeon holds the Australian record for most Olympic golds - six, with four coming in relays.

McKeown kept her 200m backstroke crown in stunning style, winning in an  Olympic record time of two minutes 03.73 seconds, some 0.59 seconds outside her world record set last year.

McEvoy, at his fourth Olympics, is now the Australian swim team's golden oldie: Cate Cambpell was the previous oldest gold medallist, aged 29 when featuring in the nation's women's 4x100m medley win in Tokyo three years ago.

Cameron McEvoy
At 30, Cameron McEvoy is Australia's oldest Olympic swimming gold medallist.

McEvoy pocketed his first Olympic gold medal after taking a break from the sport, following the Tokyo Games three years ago.

He returned with a revolutionary training regime.

A physics student nicknamed The Professor who aspires to be an astronaut, McEvoy bases his training around technical minutiae in the water.

But outside the pool, he retains fitness with activities such as calisthenics and rock climbing rather than swimming endless laps.

"It's hard to explain the two-year process that it took to get here and the route I took," said McEvoy, the first Australian man to win gold in Paris.

"That act of creation, effectively, over the last two years ... being the guinea pig and seeing where it would take me is something that I'm going to be most proud of.

"The entire two year journey, it wasn't just a transformation as an athlete. As a human being I grew a lot in terms of this process."

McEvoy triumphed in 21.25 seconds in the one-lap dash ahead of Great Britain's Ben Proud (21.30) and Frenchman Florent Manaudou (21.56).

The victory helps erase his lingering disappointment from the Rio Games eight years ago when he entered the 100m freestyle medal race as hot favourite but finished seventh in a final won by compatriot Kyle Chalmers.

Also Friday night, Ella Ramsey joined McKeown in qualifying for the 200m medley medal race.

And fellow Australian Matt Temple secured a spot in the men's 100m butterfly final, but teammate Ben Armbruster missed out.

In the only medal race not involving Australia, French megastar Leon Marchand won the men's 200m individual medley - his fourth gold at his home-town Games.

Marchand joins American greats Michael Phelps (2004 and 2008) and Mark Spitz (1972), and East German Kristin Otto (1988) as the only  swimmers to win four individual golds at the same Olympics.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store