Kaylee McKeown turns fourth, storms home to win gold in pulsating 100m backstroke final
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Kaylee McKeown has stormed to victory in the women's 100m backstroke final, defending her Olympic crown and delivering Australia's sixth gold medal of Paris 2024.
McKeown set a new Olympic record, coming home strongly with the help of her "little superpower" – her late father – to beat out her fierce American rival Regan Smith, who claimed silver.
While the Aussie had a decent reaction time, she turned in fourth at the halfway point and looked set to miss the podium altogether with half of the final lap left, only to dig deep with an incredible late spurt to win back-to-back Olympic titles.
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Kaylee McKeown has stormed to victory in the women's 100m backstroke final. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Speaking to Nine, McKeown put the gold medal-winning effort down to her father Sholto, who died in 2020 after a battle with brain cancer.
"I like to think I have a little superpower and that's my dad," she said.
"I believe he was with me tonight. I'm just over the moon...
"I'm not going to swear but we can all put words together... he would be extremely proud.
"It's great to have my family here because I know that he's here in spirit."
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In a moment that evoked memories of her infamous poolside interview in Tokyo, McKeown didn't quite manage to avoid swearing as she paid tribute to her family.
"No words can really amount to how much I appreciate their support," she said.
"They deal with a lot of shit, so thank you for all of that."
Smith, the world record-holder, had been touted as the sternest obstacle standing in between McKeown and back-to-back Olympic crowns in both the 100m and 200m backstroke.
For much of the race, she looked set to play spoiler as she and compatriot Katharine Berkoff took the challenge to the Australian.
"I wasn't sure if I could get up and get there tonight," McKeown said.
"The Americans gave me a red hot push so it just feels wonderful to be here.
"Expectation is a privilege and if you get that privilege, it is special."
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The victory puts McKeown into an elite pantheon of Olympians, joining Ian Thorpe, Ariarne Titmus, Betty Cuthbert, Murray Rose, Dawn Fraser and Shane Gould as the only Australians to win three individual gold medals.
Next up on her schedule is the attempt to make it two successful title defences, with the 200m backstroke heats on Thursday night (AEST).
