Backstroking Golden Girl Kaylee McKeown Chasing A Taylor-Made Treble In Glasgow
Australian swimming’s golden girl Kaylee McKeown will head to Glasgow for what could well be her last Commonwealth Games next month, primed to emulate the gold medal feats of her sister Taylor.
NO BRIDGE TOO FAR: Kaylee McKeown and Lani Pallister modelling iconic Speedo swimwear. Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan.
In 2014 Taylor McKeown won the women’s 200m breaststroke in her Games debut with a 13-year-old Kaylee cheering on big sister from the grandstands.
“From watching my sister make her first senior team and head to Glasgow, it makes making my third Commonwealth Games team even more special,” McKeown said today when she joined fellow members of the Australian team on Sydney Harbour for the unveiling of the official Speedo swimsuits for the Games.
“It’s always an honour and a privilege, especially wearing Speedo who have stuck by me since I was 13 years old.”
McKeown made her senior international debut at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, competing in front of a home crowd as a 16-year-old, reaching the finals in two events, narrowly missing the podium, finishing fourth in both the 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke.
SUITED UP: Hannah Casey, Tommy Neill, Lakeisha Patterson, Sienna Toohey and Flynn Southam at today’s Speedo Commonwealth Games swimwear launch for Glasgow. Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan.
Four year’s later she arrived into Birmingham for the 2020 Games as the duel Olympic champion – and left with four gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
But after winning the 50, 100 and 200m backstroke at last week’s Trials Meet she now has her sights set on winning the first backstroke treble at the Commonwealth Games after finishing third behind Canada’s Kyle Masse and teammate Mollie O’Callaghan in the 50m in Birmingham.
McKeown was joined on the iconic Sydney Harbour by a host of stars, including Sam Short, Lani Pallister, Zac Stubblety-Cook and Elijah Winnington, aboard a chartered Sydney Ferry, with the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as a living backdrop.
All fresh from their outstanding results at the Trials with Short matching the feats of the likes of Grant Hackett, Justin Lemberg and John Konrads with his four freestyle wins over 200, 400, 800 and 1500m.
Pallister winning the 400, 800 and 1500 – both freestylers primed for a golden Games in Glasgow.
President of Pentland Brands Asia Pacific, Graham Eyres said Speedo was once again honoured to be the swimwear supplier of choice for the Australian Commonwealth Games team.
“We have been done this for many, many Games and each time we never take it for granted,” said Ayres.
“We are proud of our Fastskin LZR Racer competition swimsuit with the Glasgow 2026 competition wear featuring Speedo’s Fastskin 2.0 Intent and Valor race suits in green, the deep, proud tone that defines the National aquatic identity.
“Both suits are engineered for every type of competitive swimmer, combining two decades of pioneering performance science with next-generation fabric construction and hydrodynamic profiling.
“In these Speedo suits there have been many bold Aussie athletes winning gold, and we are sure there will be many more in Glasgow.”
