‘I’LL BE EVEN FASTER FOR PARIS 2024’
AUSTRALIA’S MOST SUCCESSFUL OLYMPIAN IS SHOWING NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN
Swimming legend Emma Mckeon returned to Australia last year with an impressive accolade as Australia’s most decorated Olympian ever.
Having secured 11 Olympic medals between 2016 and the Tokyo 2020 games, she secured her position as our most successful Olympian. The 27-year-old athlete is tied
with Ian Thorpe for gaining five Olympic golds – the most in Australian history.
Her incredible achievements have made the whole country proud. Six months on and Emma is enjoying a wellearned break from the pool. She’s also turned her focus
‘I NEVER SET OUT TO BREAK THAT KIND OF RECORD’
to an important cause close to her heart – encouraging safe swimming at beaches. She’s even thrown her voice behind a new campaign by Nutrigrain and Surf Life Saving Australia that aims to reduce drowning deaths at beaches.
With many beach-goers opting for quieter beaches to avoid the crowds as COVID-19 continues to rip through communities, drownings have risen 13 per cent, with more than half taking place at unpatrolled beaches.
“This campaign is so important to me because I come from a really passionate Surf Life Saving family,” says Emma. “We have a big
summer ahead of us. It’s important that if you want to go to the beach to visit one that’s patrolled and swim between the flags.”
Growing up in the coastal town of Wollongong, NSW, meant that Emma was never far away from a beach during her childhood. Her grandfather, Rick Mckeon, was a founding member of South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club and her former Olympian dad, Ron, was also heavily involved.
“I guess it’s how my love for the ocean came to me,” she tells New Idea. “Growing up, I never did laps, I was just learning to swim by playing in the pool, or at the beach. I grew up around water and it was only as I got older did I get involved in the competition side of things.”
At 12, Emma was an active participant in Nippers, following in her father and grandfather’s
footsteps to learn about surf awareness and safety.
Emma’s Olympic debut was in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, having narrowly missed out on making the London 2012 team. Representing her country alongside her brother David, also a swimmer, the duo were the first brother and sister to swim at the Olympic games since John and Ilsa Konrads in 1960. In total, Emma claimed one gold, two silver and a bronze medal.
Five years later, in Tokyo, Emma took her achievements to a whole new level, clinching four gold and three bronze medals. Her meteoric rise
has gained her a place in the history books.
“It’s been a roller-coaster and non-stop,” laughs Emma. “I’ve been so focused and driven towards the goal of the Olympics. There’s been many different obstacles to contend with. I’m proud of getting through that.
“It’s a shock to have my name as Australia’s most decorated Olympian. I never really set out to break that kind of record, I was just going out there and doing my best and putting myself in the best position I could. I went to win, and I wanted to win but it was about preparing and controlling what I could. It’s an absolute honour.”
Returning home in early December, Emma enjoyed a break to spend time with friends and family, and celebrate her achievements. Looking forward, Emma says she can still improve before the Paris Olympics in 2024.
“The next 12 months will definitely be busy. I want to go through to Paris and have a lot to improve on. I know I can go faster, and that’s what gives me the motivation. If I didn’t think I could improve, I wouldn’t keep swimming at that level.”