Tokyo Olympics 2021: Kaylee McKeown wins, Emily Seebohm third in 200m backstroke
Australia's Kaylee McKeown sealed a historic golden double in the 200m backstroke final at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, while Emily Seebohm snared bronze.
Already the 100m champion but just the fifth-fastest qualifier for the 200m decider, McKeown clocked 2:04.68 out in lane two to win from Canada's Kylie Masse (2:05.42). Seebohm swam 2:06.17 for third, having qualified fastest for the final at age 29.
Australia had previously won only a single Olympic medal in the 200m event: a bronze to Nicole Stevenson back at Barcelona 1992. McKeown has now become Australia's first Olympic gold medallist in both backstroke events; obviously making her the first Aussie to win both at a single Games.
It was Australia's seventh gold medal in the pool at these Olympics, which trails only the eight won on home soil at Melbourne 1956. Tokyo 2020 has now equalled Athens 2004, headlined by icons like Ian Thorpe, Petria Thomas and Grant Hackett, as Australia's greatest overseas Games for swimming.
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Kaylee McKeown of Team Australia celebrates winning the gold medal after competing in the Women's 200m Backstroke. Getty
McKeown trailed Masse for the first three laps before finishing with a powerful burst. She later led off a bronze medal swim for Australia in the mixed medley relay; the event's inaugural edition at the Games.
"It's a pretty unreal morning, to be honest," McKeown said on pool deck.
Seebohm placed McKeown's gold medal around her neck on the podium and the younger swimmer then invited the veteran to join her on the top step.
"She deserved to be on that gold medal podium as much as I did. It meant the world to both of us," McKeown said.
Gold medalist Kaylee McKeown of Team Australia poses on the podium. Getty
Gold medalist Kaylee McKeown of Team Australia (L) and bronze medalist Emily Seebohm pose on the podium. Getty
Seebohm, too, came from back in the 200m backstroke field to claim a medal.
The four-time Olympian was in tears when discussing her achievement. It was her sixth Olympic medal and came nine years after her only other medal in an individual event: silver in the 100 backstroke at London 2012.
"It's so amazing, I never thought this was going to happen again," Seebohm sobbed on pool deck post-race.
"I feel so lucky. God, I'm not a crier normally, I'm not a crier at all.
"I'm just so proud, the team has done so well. It's just been like an absolute dream to be on this team, I'm just so grateful for all the times I've been on the Australian swim team.
"Honestly, it's been the favourite thing of my entire career, being on this team."
Kaylee McKeown is embraced by Emily Seebohm after winning the gold medal in the Women's 200m Backstroke. Getty
