2022 Commonwealth Games: McKeon and Le Clos make history in Birmingham pool
- Emma McKeon won her record-breaking 11th Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women’s 50m freestyle
- McKeon, winner of seven medals at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, shared the landmark moment with fellow Australians Meg Harris and Shayna Jack
Swimmer Emma McKeon became the most successful Commonwealth Games athlete of all-time on Sunday, leading an Australian sweep of the women’s 50 metre freestyle to claim a record 11th gold medal.
It was a night of milestones at the Sandwell Aquatic Centre as moments earlier South African Chad Le Clos had joined shooters Michael Gault and Phil Adams as the most decorated Games athletes ever when he snatched his 18th medal by picking up a silver in the men’s 200 metres butterfly.
Australia then ended the evening with a bang, powering to gold in the women’s 4x200m relay in a world record time of seven minutes, 39.29 seconds, smashing the old mark of 7:40.33 set by China at the Tokyo Olympics.
Madison Wilson, Kiah Melverton Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus, with a brilliant anchor leg, came home a massive 12.69 seconds clear of Canada, who finished a distant second to take silver while England completed the podium.
McKeon’s 50m freestyle win follows earlier victories in the mixed 4×100 freestyle and women’s 4×100 freestyle relays to sit alone atop the gold medal table ahead of fellow Australian swimmers Susie O’Neill, Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones.
McKeon, winner of seven medals at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, was able to share the landmark moment with Meg Harris and Shayna Jack who joined her on the podium taking silver and bronze respectively.
“It is special,” said McKeon. “It makes me reflect on the last eight years since my first Commonwealth Games and I can see how far I’ve come as a person and an athlete.”