- McKeown made an inspiring comeback from fourth place to clinch the gold in the 100m backstroke
- Honored her late father with an emotional tribute following her win
- Successfully defended the title she earned in Tokyo
Australian gold medallist Kaylee McKeown delivered a heartfelt tribute to her late father, Sholto, following her win in the 100m backstroke on Wednesday morning. She carried an emotional reminder of him into the pool in Paris.
The 23-year-old swimmer made an incredible turnaround, overtaking the world record holder, Regan Smith, after being in fourth place at the turn, and also set a new Olympic record.
‘I like to think of my dad as my little superpower,’ McKeown stated right after the race.
‘I believe he was with me tonight, and I’m absolutely overjoyed.’
Fans could catch a glimpse of Sholto’s presence if they looked closely at McKeown’s right foot, where she has a tattoo that reads ‘I’ll always be with you,’ a touching tribute to her father, who passed away from brain cancer in August 2020.
Sholto had hoped to stay alive long enough to watch her compete at the Tokyo Olympics, where she claimed gold in the 100m backstroke, but he sadly passed away shortly after the Games were postponed due to the pandemic.
Kaylee McKeown drew inspiration from a tattoo about her late father (circled) when she fought back to win gold in the 100m backstroke in Paris on Wednesday morning
Sholto McKeown (with Kaylee) lost his battle with brain cancer in August 2020
Before her race, the 23-year-old gazes at the ‘I’ll always be with you’ tattoo on her right foot as she prepares to dive in
When asked what her father might have said had he been able to watch her win in Paris, McKeown—who infamously swore live on air after her Tokyo triumph—responded, ‘I’m not going to swear… he’d be immensely proud.’
‘It’s wonderful to have my family here with me because I know he’s here in spirit.’
She then broke her no-swearing promise by expressing her gratitude to her mother, Sharon, and sister, Taylor.
‘Words can’t truly express how much I value their support. They go through so much, so thank you for everything.’
Her sentiments mirrored what she shared with fans after emerging from the pool victorious in Tokyo, where she blew a kiss to her father and stated, ‘I hope you’re proud, and I’ll continue to make you proud.’
McKeown further elaborated on how the tattoo motivates her just before she races.
McKeown remarked, ‘I like to think of my dad as my little superpower’ after her victory
‘It just happens that I focus on the words “be with you,”‘ she explained, noting that she locks her eyes on her tattoo when her feet are raised on the wall before her backstroke events.
‘It’s quite special to see it because it reminds me that he will be alongside me, and that’s really precious.’
Before the Tokyo Games, she shared that the delay allowed her to cherish more moments with her father.
‘In many ways, my dad is my biggest inspiration now,’ she reflected.
‘I channel him in the final 50 meters of my race, like, ‘Come on, Dad, help me finish strong,’ because I know he’s right there beside me.’
McKeown acknowledged her struggles leading up to Tokyo but asserted that those challenges made her victory all the more fulfilling.
‘It’s not just about what I’ve faced—everyone has their own path. Mine has simply been particularly tough,’ she explained.
‘I wouldn’t want it any other way because I believe all of that has shaped who I am today.’
