Australia's golden girl Emma McKeon has claimed a record medal tally at the Tokyo Olympic pool.
Camera IconAustralia's golden girl Emma McKeon has claimed a record medal tally at the Tokyo Olympic pool. Credit: AP

McKeon overwhelmed at Olympic medal record

Steve LarkinAAP


With more medals than any Australian, Emma McKeon is struggling to comprehend the weight of her Olympic history.

The swim star collected seven medals at the Tokyo Games, becoming the first Australian to win four golds at a single Olympics.

Her Olympic career total of 11 medals is an Australian record, surpassing fellow swim greats Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones.

For McKeon, an introverted 27-year-old from Wollongong, being among such exalted company is staggering.

"It does mean a lot to me," she said.

"It means a lot to the team I have got behind me because they have put in just as much hard work as I have.

"It's overwhelming knowing how much hard work me and everyone else has put into this."

The 27-year-old on Sunday completed the rare golden 50-100 freestyle double - just the fourth woman to do so at an Olympics.

Just 37 minutes later she swam a butterfly leg in Australia's 4x100m medley triumph.

McKeon also won three bronze medals and lifted Australia to a best-ever campaign at an Olympic pool.

The swim team's nine golds betters the previous record, eight, at Melbourne's 1956 Games.

And the Tokyo team's overall haul of 20 medals equals the record of the 2008 Beijing Games.

"That's amazing, to come away with that many medals," McKeon said.

"We have had a lot of young people come through, we have had a lot of the people who are older inspire those people coming through.

"And it's just a pretty cool thing to be a part of."

McKeon entered seven events. And medalled in all.

Her coach Michael Bohl wasn't surprised.

"When you see someone that works as hard as she does succeed at the high level, that's what gives you the most satisfaction," Bohl said.

"It's probably the one occasion internationally where she's stood up and we really saw what she's capable of."

McKeon had long been an international medal glutton.

She's amassed 17 world championship medals but no individual gold - two silvers and a bronze in non-relays.

Mckeon was Australia's best-performed athlete at the 2016 Rio Olympics with four medals - a relay gold, two silver and a bronze.

"She didn't get what she wanted to out of the last Olympics," Bohl said.

"She got on the podium but she knew she was capable of much more.

"The roller-coaster of emotions in Rio really helped her hold it together at this meet.

"It's the best I've ever seen her mentally and physically. She knew what she had to do from the very first swim."