Australia’s most decorated Olympian McKeon quits swimming – Sports

SYDNEY: Australia’s most decorated Olympian and eight-time world record-holding swimmer Emma McKeon retired from the sport at the age of 30 on Monday.

McKeon won 14 Olympic medals, including six golds, at the Rio, Tokyo and Paris Games this summer.

“Today I am officially retiring from competitive swimming,” he said on Instagram, along with a collage of clips showcasing many highlights of his career.

“I knew when I went to Paris that it would be my last Olympics, and the months since have given me time to reflect on my journey and think about what I want my future in swimming to be like,” she said.

McKeon made her name at the Covid-postponed Tokyo Games in 2021, winning an unparalleled seven medals among all-time swimming greats.

Her four gold and three bronze medals surpassed the six gold medals won by East German Kristin Otto (1988) and American Natalie Coughlin (2008).

It also matched the record for most decorated female athletes at a single Games, tied with Russian gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya (1952).

A versatile and determined freestyle and butterfly racer, her career was in jeopardy after she failed to make the London 2012 Olympic team.

Instead, he became his country’s most honored Olympian; It’s an area where there’s a lot of competition, given Australia’s swimming prowess.

McKeon leads Australian team to swim world short course title

“I’m proud of myself for giving everything, both physically and mentally, to my swimming career,” she said Monday.

“I wanted to see what I could do and I did.”

Born in Wollongong, New South Wales, McKeon’s excellence was matched by his humility and he had a pool heritage, with his father Ron swimming at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics.

McKeon’s mother, Susie, swam at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, while her brother, David, competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics; Emma and David became the first brother and sister to swim for Australia at the same Games in 56 years.

“He was and will continue to be a great role model for young athletes,” Australian swimming team head coach Rohan Taylor said.

“She always carried herself with dignity, and while we all see her grace, the public doesn’t truly appreciate how strong she is.”

His long-time personal coach Michael Bohl added: “He is a quiet and successful person, he hates any fuss, he didn’t want any notoriety.

“But he took great pride in representing his country and supporting his teammates.

“His accomplishments are unparalleled in our sport.”

The Australian Olympic Committee praised him for consistently “setting the standard of excellence”, while Swimming Australia said he would be remembered in the same way as greats such as Dawn Fraser and Ian Thorpe.

“He will also be remembered for how he represented swimming,” said Swimming Australia chief Rob Woodhouse, McKeon’s uncle.

“The standards he set in and out of the water were second to none and he has a lifelong love of the sport, which is why he won’t give up on swimming.”