Kaylee McKeown surges into history books with come-from-behind win in women's 200m backstroke final
Updated . First published at
Kaylee McKeown has become the first Australian to win four individual gold medals at the Olympics after storming to victory in the women's 200m backstroke final.
McKeown had qualified for the medal race with the second-fastest time, but went one better in the final when she outclassed the rest of the field to claim gold and set a new Olympic record.
The win came with a typical late surge – the Australian never led until the last lap, when she turned on a spurt of speed to beat American rival Regan Smith, with Canadian Kylie Masse in third.
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Kaylee McKeown has become the first Australian to win four individual gold medals at the Olympics. Getty
Not only does the win make McKeown the only Australian to win four individual golds, it also gives her the rare achievement of successfully defending two Olympic titles in the one Games, following her 100m victory earlier this week.
McKeown reacted at the start well but allowed Smith to do the pace-setting , never leading at any of the turns although equally never falling outside the top three.
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She turned for the final lap in second place, less than two tenths behind Smith, but quickly cruised past the American to win by half a second, comfortably beating Missy Franklin's long-standing Olympic record, which was set back in 2012.
Unlike her win in the 100m backstroke, there was no exuberant celebration from McKeown, instead only what looked like a big sigh of relief and a wave to the crowd.
"No big celebration from Kaylee there," gold medallist Giaan Rooney said on commentary for Nine.
"She's been very within herself and I think it's a feeling of relief. I think she's she felt the pressure.
"She was very serious when she walked out behind the blocks tonight.
"She understands history. She understands moments and she understands what was being asked of her tonight."
McKeown's gold was the second in the space of mere minutes to start Saturday morning's finals session (AEST), coming right after Cam McEvoy won Australia's first-ever medal in the men's 50m freestyle final, and propelled the green and gold into second on the medal tally.
More to come.
