Kaylee McKeown Sets Olympic Record in 100 Meters Backstroke
Kaylee McKeown has defended her 100-meter backstroke title spectacularly at the Paris Olympics, setting an Olympic record on her way to gold. In a thrilling race, McKeown edged out her great American rival Reagan Smith to retain the crown she won in Tokyo three years ago.
Race Highlights
McKeown’s victory was particularly dramatic. At the halfway mark, she was in the middle of the pack, but her incredible performance in the last 50 meters, especially the final 25, saw her power to the finish line, touching the wall in an Olympic record time. Fellow Australian Iona Anderson also competed in the final, finishing in fifth place.
After the race, McKeown paid tribute to her father, who passed away from brain cancer in 2020. She emotionally acknowledged that she felt her father’s presence with her in the pool, calling him her “superpower.”
Other Australian Achievements
In other events, the Australian men’s 4×200 meters freestyle relay team secured a bronze medal. The quartet of Max Giuliani, Flynn Southam, Tommy Neil, and Elijah Winnington finished third behind the American team, who took silver, and Great Britain, who claimed gold.
Day 4 Highlights and Disappointments
Women’s Rugby Sevens Heartbreak
One of the most shocking results of the day was the Australian women’s rugby sevens team’s performance. Entering the tournament with high hopes of reaching the gold medal match, similar to their success in Rio 2016, they were unexpectedly defeated by Canada. This loss relegated them to the bronze medal match, where they again faced Canada. Despite leading 12-7, the Australians conceded a try in the final moments, leading to a narrow defeat and no medal.
Charlotte Caslick and the team’s coach expressed their heartbreak following the loss, highlighting the emotional toll of the unexpected result.
Basketball: Boomers’ Hard-Fought Loss
The Australian men’s basketball team, the Boomers, suffered a tough 10-point loss to Canada. However, there remains hope for the team to progress further in the tournament despite the setback.
Canoeing: Jess Fox’s Continued Success
Jess Fox, fresh off winning gold in the K1 event, advanced to the finals in the C1 canoe slalom event. There is significant anticipation for Fox to potentially secure her second gold of the Paris Games, with the finals set for tomorrow.
Conclusion
Day 4 of the Paris Olympics was a mixture of triumph and heartbreak for the Australian team. Kaylee McKeown’s record-setting performance in the 100 meters backstroke and the men’s 4×200 meters freestyle relay team’s bronze medal provided highlights. However, the women’s rugby sevens team’s loss and the Boomers’ defeat were disappointing. All eyes now turn to Jess Fox as she aims for her second gold medal in the canoe slalom event.
