The 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion recorded a time of 58.11 in the 100m backstroke, bettering the previous Aussie record of 58.23 set by three-time Olympian Emily Seebohm at the London 2012 Olympics.  

Her blistering performance in Brisbane is the 4th fastest time in history and would have won her every 100m women’s backstroke Olympic gold medal in history. 

The following day, McKeown clocked 2:04.49 in the 200m backstroke, setting a new Australian Record, Commonwealth Record and making her the third fastest women over 200m backstroke, behind America’s reigning World Champion Regan Smith and London 2012 Olympic Champion, Missy Franklin (2:04.06). 

Setting a new personal best by 1.34 seconds, McKeown’s time was over a second faster than the previous Australian and Commonwealth Record of 2:05.68, again set by her Dolphins Australia teammate Seebohm, when she won the 2017 World Title in Budapest. 

One of the youngest members of the national squad, McKeown made her debut aged 15 after qualifying for the World Championships in 2017. Although she narrowly missed out on a medal in Budapest, the rising star finished 4th and set a new Junior World Record. 

The following year, the then-16-year-old had two 4th place finishes at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. A few months later, the Queenslander was a standout at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games as the top Australian medallist, with one gold, two silver and one bronze. 

At the Gwangju 2019 World Championships, McKeown won silver in the 200m backstroke and in the 4x100m medley relay as a heat swimmer. She placed equal 4th in the 50m backstroke and 5th in the 100m backstroke. 

The youngster is well on track to joining her big sister Taylor as an Aussie Olympian if she qualifies for her debut Games at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to be held in 2021. 

olympics.com.au