Emma McKeon breaks down in tears after missing podium in last individual Olympic race

PARIS: Australian swimming champion Emma McKeon fell short of the medals in her final Olympic race as an individual and broke down in tears during a pool-side interview.

No Australian has won as many Olympic medals as McKeon, who's hauled in 12 including six golds, but the 30-year-old finished sixth in the women's 100m butterfly in Paris on Monday morning (AEST).

American Torri Huske stopped the clock at 55.59 seconds to produce a shock win.

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At the US Olympic trials just last month, fellow American Gretchen Walsh had clocked a 55.18 to set a new world record, but the 21-year-old was left with silver in Paris on Monday morning (AEST), while China's Yufei Zhang (56.21) claimed bronze.

Speaking to Nine's Ellie Cole on the pool deck after the race, McKeon said she'd "tried not to think" about it being her final Olympic swim as an individual.

"It's just emotional," said Australia's most decorated Olympian, choking back tears.

"I definitely hoped that would've been better but I know I've got a lot to be proud of.

"It's always going to be emotional finishing something that's brought me so much joy. So many great relationships and so many great life lessons.

"The week is nowhere near done, it's only day two.

“I feel so lucky."

McKeon has one race still to contest in Paris in the women's 4x100m medley relay.

The Wollongong product clinched her sixth Olympic gold medal on Sunday morning (AEST) as a member of the Australian women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team.

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Cole asked McKeon how she would reflect on her career in the pool.

"I probably haven't had enough time to be able to do that yet," McKeon said.

"As athletes we're always looking to what the next thing is, and for me I've been looking at how can I improve all the time.

"I am looking forward to the time when I can really look back on it all. I've got so many great people around me who have already been through the same thing.

Former teammate Cate Campbell said she was "honoured" to witness McKeon's final individual race, character and presence on the world stage.

"I think that what we've seen is how much this sport really means to her and how hard she's had to fight to get to this position," Campbell said on Nine's Today.

"We don't often see her share any emotion, even when she wins she might give a little fist pump but that's it.

"She's dedicated decades of her life to this sport and she is our greatest ever Olympian.

"(Post-race) we got a little glimpse inside, like a chink inside her armour that she feels like she has to wear every time she goes out behind the blocks.

"Emma is a very private person and she keeps things very under wraps and for her to be able to share that with us is actually a real moment for Australia to wrap their arms around her.

"The fact that she has just finished her last individual event on the Olympics stage is phenomenal.

"I think that Emma has really shown her class these Olympics. I think we got to see the best of her physically in Tokyo and now we get to see the best of her character.

"I hope Australia feels so privilege to be able to witness that."