An undated picture exhibits Australian gold medallist Emma McKeon together with her medal on the rostrum after the ultimate of the ladies’s 50m freestyle swimming occasion in the course of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Video games on the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo. — AFP
Australia’s most embellished Olympian, Emma McKeon, introduced her retirement from all types of swimming on Monday, bringing an finish to a glittering profession during which she received 14 medals at three Olympics and 20 at world championships.
The 30-year-old sprinter had signalled her retirement earlier this 12 months on the Paris Olympics after successful a gold, silver and bronze in relays to assist Australia to its most profitable Summer season Video games.
“I will definitely miss it … It’s brought me a lot of great relationships and shaped me into the person I am,” McKeon mentioned within the assertion confirming her retirement.
“But I’m definitely ready for the next part of my life, which I’m excited for. I don’t think I’ve had the time to reflect on everything yet.”
McKeon missed out on the London Olympics as a teen however hit her stride in Rio in 2016 the place she received her first gold within the 4×100 metre relay in addition to silvers in two different relays and a bronze within the 200m freestyle.
In Tokyo in 2021, she received the 100m and 50m freestyle dash titles which, together with two relay golds and three bronze medals, gave her the most important medal haul for a single athlete on the delayed Video games.
“She was and will continue to be a great role model for younger athletes,” mentioned Australia’s swimming coach Rohan Taylor.
“She always carried herself with dignity, and while we all saw her grace – the public can not truly appreciate how tough she is.”
Taylor and McKeon’s uncle, Swimming Australia chief govt Rob Woodhouse, each picked out her triumph within the 100m freestyle in Tokyo, when she completed 0.31 seconds forward of Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, because the spotlight of her profession.
“The 100m freestyle was one of the greatest races I have ever watched but I have also loved watching her advocate for those coming up through the ranks,” mentioned Woodhouse.
In addition to her six Olympic golds and 5 world titles, McKeon was additionally a part of relay groups which set eight world data within the pool, three of which nonetheless stand.
Reflecting on lacking out on the group for the London Video games, McKeon mentioned she hoped her story would encourage younger athletes to stick with their desires.
“You have ups and you have downs. You just keep going along and you keep ticking the boxes. I can’t believe where I’m at right now and how I got here,” she added. “I want young kids to know that I was once in the same position they are – dreaming of one day doing something big.”
