Paris Olympics: Kaylee McKeown reigns supreme in 200m backstroke

After claiming gold in the 100m backstroke, Australia’s Kaylee McKeown has completed the double, claiming gold in Saturday morning’s (AEST) 200m backstroke final.

Despite going into the final as the second-fastest qualifier, McKeown was a raging hot favourite with Paris Olympics bookmakers, and the 23-year-old from Queensland has gold wrapped up with 20m to go.

McKeown was up in the firing line throughout the 200m event, but once turning for home, there was no one else you would have wanted to be sided with than the Australian.

Clocking in at a time of 2:03.73, McKeown got the better of Regan Smith from the USA and Canada’s Kylie Masse.

Saturday morning’s gold take McKeown to five gold medals, and becomes the first woman to defend the 100m/200m backstroke crown at Olympic games.

With this being her fourth individual gold, it rockets McKeown to the top as Australia’s greatest ever Olympian in terms of gold medals won.

Remarkably, McKeown could be in line for a fifth individual gold, with the legend of Australian sport and swimming lining up in the 200m Individual Medley semifinals later on the Saturday morning swimming program.

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