Australian swim star in doubt for 200m individual medley at Commonwealth Games due to illness
Kaylee McKeown is in danger of missing the women’s 200m individual medley race at the Commonwealth Games after contracting the illness on the opening day of trials in Sydney.
McKeown, the event’s Australian record holder, withdrew from the 200m IM heats at Sydney Olympic Park on Monday morning. McKeown was able to compete in the 50 meter backstroke later in Monday’s session and won it.
While McKeown is known as a backstroker who won gold medals in the 100m and 200m at both the Olympics and world championships, the 200m IM appeared to be a major medal opportunity at next month’s Commonwealth Games due to the absence of reigning world champion Summer McIntosh.
The 200m IM final will be held without McKeown on Monday night. But McKeown has a path ahead of him to compete at the Commonwealth Games, given that the Australian team is almost certain to do well in the 100m or 200m backstroke. Team officials will then have the option to enter McKeown into the 200 IM in Glasgow.
However, if three Australians swim below the Commonwealth Games qualifying standard of 2:10.49 in Monday night’s final, McKeown is unlikely to qualify for the competition in Glasgow.
Ella Ramsay (2:10.70), Tara Kinder (2:12.05) and Jenna Forrester (2:13.52) put in encouraging times in the heats and could threaten the qualifying spot in the final.
McKeown finished fourth in the competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but later advanced to the bronze medal after American swimmer Alex Walsh was disqualified.
A year ago at the 2023 world championships, McKeown was disqualified for a stroke violation during the transition from backstroke to breaststroke in the 200m IM semi-final.
However, McKeown is likely to compete at the Pan Pacs in August, given there is more flexibility in entries.
Despite his illness, McKeown won the 50m backstroke and looks set to compete in Monday night’s final. He holds the world record in the event.
Tom Decent is chief sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
