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Redcliffe-Born McKeown Wins 100m Backstroke Gold at Worlds

Redcliffe-born swimmer Kaylee McKeown has secured gold in the women’s 100m backstroke at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, extending her unbeaten record in the event.

Background of a Champion

Kaylee McKeown, originally from Redcliffe, competed in the 100m backstroke final on 30 July 2025 at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore following a challenging year marked by injury and coaching changes. Despite dislocating her shoulder shortly before the Australian team’s staging camp in Darwin, she entered the event aiming to regain form and rediscover her enjoyment of the sport.

McKeown, 24, has not lost a major international final in the 100m backstroke since 2019. She won Olympic gold in the event at both the Tokyo and Paris Games and claimed her first world title in 2023.

New Record, Familiar Rivals

In the 100m backstroke final, McKeown trailed American swimmer Regan Smith at the turn but closed the gap in the final 50 metres to touch the wall first in 57.16 seconds. The time set a new Championship, Commonwealth, Oceania, and Australian record, just 0.03 seconds outside Smith’s world mark. Smith and fellow American Katharine Berkoff completed the podium, finishing second and third respectively.

This was McKeown’s second world championship win in the event and marked her 28th consecutive international victory in the 100m backstroke since early 2021. She now holds five individual world titles in backstroke events and remains unbeaten in global 100m backstroke finals for six years.

Shift in Training and Mindset

The gold medal followed significant changes to McKeown’s training environment. After her former coach relocated, she moved to the Sunshine Coast to train under Michael Sage at USC Spartans. The switch, along with a renewed focus on personal well-being, led to improved performances. McKeown also spoke of the emotional and mental challenges she faced after the Paris Olympics, describing this championship as part of a process of rediscovering enjoyment in the sport.

Despite entering the meet with doubts about competing, McKeown stated her primary focus was overcoming internal pressure rather than chasing medals. Her result exceeded expectations after limited training due to injury.

Redcliffe swimmer — *Photo Credit: Kaylee McKeown/Instagram*

Additional Australian Performances

Fellow Australian Lani Pallister earned bronze in the 1500m freestyle, finishing behind American Katie Ledecky and Italy’s Simona Quadarella. Pallister clocked 15:41.18, her second-fastest time ever, after a strong start alongside Ledecky in the opening laps.

Also advancing to event finals were Mollie O’Callaghan and Jamie Perkins in the 200m freestyle, along with Harrison Turner in the 200m butterfly. Turner became the first Australian male in 22 years to qualify for a world final in that event.

Looking Ahead

With her performance in Singapore, McKeown has set a strong tone for the lead-up to the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Her sustained excellence in the pool continues to highlight Redcliffe as the home of one of Australia’s most successful swimmers.

Published 30-July-2025

Kaylee McKeown to Lead Australia at World Swimming Championships

Photo Credit: Kaylee Mckeown/Facebook

Kaylee McKeown, born in Redcliffe and raised in Caboolture, will lead Australia’s charge at the 2025 World Swimming Championships in Singapore, anchoring the national team with her world-class backstroke performances.

From Caboolture to the World Stage

Kaylee McKeown was born in Redcliffe and raised in Caboolture, where her passion for swimming first took shape. After years of dedication, she made her Olympic debut in Tokyo, claiming three gold medals and setting a new standard for Australian backstroke.

Now 23, she trains with the USC Spartans and credits her early community support for laying the foundation of her success. At the 2025 national trials in Adelaide, McKeown won the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke events, all well under the qualifying times. Her performance confirmed her spot at the top of Australia’s team for the World Championships.

A Dramatic Start to the Trials

Her rise from local lanes to global headlines continues as she prepares to defend three world titles this July. McKeown’s selection wasn’t without drama, as she was initially disqualified in the 50m backstroke heats for a false start.

A review overturned the decision, confirming she had reacted to movement near the blocks. She bounced back to win the final in 27.33 seconds, well under the 27.74 qualifying time.

McKeown also claimed victories in the 100m and 200m backstroke, showcasing her consistency across all distances. She still holds world records in the 50m and 200m backstroke and remains one of the few to sweep all three events at a single World Championships.

Eyes on Singapore and Beyond

The 2025 World Swimming Championships will be held in Singapore from 27 July to 3 August. McKeown enters as the reigning world champion in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke events. Her focus will be on defending those titles while sharpening her form ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Under coach Michael Bohl, she continues to train for speed and technique across all backstroke distances. The team will stage in Darwin before heading to Singapore, with McKeown playing a key leadership role in Australia’s campaign.

Community Pride Runs Deep

McKeown’s success continues to inspire pride across Moreton Bay, with both Redcliffe and Caboolture closely tied to her story. Local coaches and swim clubs still follow her progress, knowing she began in the same community pools young swimmers use today.

Though she now trains with a national high-performance squad, McKeown often credits her hometown roots for shaping her early journey. Her achievements highlight the depth of regional talent in Australia. They also remind young athletes that world-class careers can start in local lanes.

Published 25-June-2025

Olympics Latest: Redcliffe’s Kaylee McKeown Sets New Record

Photo credit: Australian Olympic Team/Facebook

Queensland’s pride Kaylee McKeown secured a gold medal for Australia in the women’s 100-m backstroke final in her first Olympic Games foray, leaving everyone at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in awe of her record-breaking moment.

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Kaylee McKeown touched first with a time of 57.47 seconds, 0.02 seconds off her own world record. It was a close match against Canada’s Kylie Masse and USA’s Regan Smith, who finished with 57.72 seconds and 58.05 respectively. This win made her the first female in Australian history to win an Olympic gold medal in this event.

Highlights

She was born in Redcliffe and went to school at St Paul’s Lutheran Primary in Caboolture
Kaylee now joins her sister Taylor as an Olympic medalist, who represented Australia, and won 200m breaststroke gold at the 2015 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
She is coached by Chris Mooney, head coach of University of Sunshine Coast in Australia

McKeown’s gold medal is the second for Australia at Tokyo 2020, following the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay team’s victory on 25 July 2021. The team, formed by the quartet of Meg Harris, Emma McKeon, and sisters Bronte and Cate Campbell won with a record of 3.29.69, which is 0.36 seconds off their record in April 2018.

From L-R: Kylie Masse, Kaylee McKeown, and Regan Smith (Photo credit: Kaylee McGeown/Instagram)

Unique Training Cycles

Coach Chris Mooney and Mark McKean, head of physical performance at University of Sunshine Coast, designed and implemented their own training cycles, allowing McKeown and her teammates to work off a 17-day on, 4-day off schedule.

An emotional world record at the Australian Olympic Swim Trials 🇦🇺 for Kaylee McKeown!

She clocks 57.45s in the women’s 100m backstroke to take 0.12s off the existing mark, 10 months after the death of her father.@SwimmingAUS @AUSOlympicTeam @fina1908 https://t.co/FK4htVjMe2
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) June 13, 2021

This is an unusual cycle, because most swimmers will say that taking four days out of the pool is akin to sacrilege, as it only takes two days to lose their feel for the water.

But the coaches applied traditional physiological science to a new structure that they believe gives them more time to implement their programme, and also ensures that the swimmers get adequate rest.

Big Inspiration

Born in Redcliffe but now living in Sunshine Coast, the 20-year-old swimming champ dedicated this victory to her late father Sholto McKeown who died of cancer in August 2020. The tattoo on her foot, bearing the words “I’ll always be with you” was in honour of her dad.

The Olympic Games being postponed due to Covid was a ‘blessing in disguise’ as they allowed her to spend time with her father before he died.

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A post shared by Kaylee McKeown (@kaylee_mckeown)

Whenever she gets up for her backstroke starts, McKeown would see her tattoo –a reminder that her father is always with him in every match. Her father was her big inspiration and used him in the last 50 of the race to help her cross the line, knowing he’s just there.