Australia’s Kaylee McKeown won gold and set an Olympic record in the final of the 100m backstroke at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday.
In doing so, she became the first Australian woman to ever win the event at the Olympics – and promptly celebrating by saying “f–k yeah’ on live TV.
McKeown, 20, clocked 57.47 to lead home Canada’s Kylie Masse in 57.72. USA’s Regan Smith was third (58.05), while Aussie veteran Emily Seebohm – a London 2012 silver medallist in the event – placed fifth (58.05).
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McKeown swam in lane three and got out slowly before putting on an incredible swim to hit the wall first. The Aussie phenom backed up her favouritism for the event in resounding fashion.
McKeown set the event’s world record at the Australian Olympic trials, clocking 57.45. She has now won Australia’s third gold of the Games, after the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay and Ariarne Titmus in the 400m freestyle.
“It’s definitely something that a lot of people dream of, it’s something I’ve always dreamed of and to make it a reality is really amazing,” she said on pool deck afterwards.
“I’m just thankful that I have a really good support team. A few people before the race just came up to me and said, ‘You’re the hardest trainer and just have all the faith in the world that you’ve got this’.”
Then asked what she’d like to say to her family back home, mum Sharon and sister Taylor, McKeown blurted out: “F–k yeah”, before quickly realising her slip. “Wooh!”
It will no doubt become an instantly iconic blooper in Australia.
It was an emotional win for the McKeown family. Kaylee’s father, Sholto, died of brain cancer last year.
“I hope your proud and I’ll keep doing you proud,” McKeown said afterwards in a message to her dad, becoming emotional.
Seebohm was competing in her fourth Olympics and had the class to make the final at age 29.
“I’m really happy, pretty close to getting back to my best, which is really, really good,” she said on pool deck.
“It hasn’t been an easy road to get here and it’s been a long wait this five year, it’s really been a long wait. But totally worth it.
“It was an awesome race to be a part of. I’m so, so happy for Kaylee.”
Seebohm is a dual Olympic gold medallist in relay racing; the 4x100m medley at Beijing 2008 and the 4x100m freestyle as a heat swimmer at London 2012.
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