Arabic version: ماكيون تستهدف أرقام الظهر القياسية بعد التعافي

According to ABC News, five-time Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown wants to reclaim world records after illness and injury sidelined her from the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships. The Australian swimmer said watching her 50-metre backstroke record fall twice had strengthened her motivation to return.

McKeown’s 50m backstroke mark was broken in two races at the European championships by Italian swimmer Sara Curtis. McKeown said the outcome was inevitable after 50m breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke events were added to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic programme. She said Curtis had done a “phenomenal job” and that she now had “a lot of work to do.”

American swimmer Regan Smith had previously broken McKeown’s 100m backstroke world record in 2024. McKeown said she relished being able to chase rivals rather than being chased, while noting that she could keep her medals even as world records were made to be broken.

McKeown missed the major meets while dealing with glandular fever and recovering from a broken wrist suffered this year. She described watching the Australian Dolphins’ performances from home as bittersweet and said their Commonwealth Games results had added to her belief in a bright future for Australian swimming heading into Los Angeles and Brisbane 2032.

As she recovers, McKeown has reduced her usual nine weekly training sessions to three and is building gradually towards the 2027 World Aquatic Championships. She said rest had been particularly difficult, but was necessary to avoid chronic fatigue. McKeown, who will be 31 for Brisbane 2032, said she would reassess after the Los Angeles Olympics but hoped to compete at a home Games.