Sport
13 August, 2024
Our Kaylee flag bearer for closing ceremony
As the Paris Olympics drew to a close on August 12, Caboolture born and raised swimmer, Kaylee McKeown, was gifted the proud honour to be the female Australian flag bearer in the closing ceremony.
At just 23-years-old, McKeown made a splash in the Olympic pool at the Paris Games, winning a gold medal in the 100m and 200m backstroke.
She also won a silver medal in the 4x100m medley relay, and a bronze medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay and 200m individual medley.
After the Paris Games, Kaylee now has the most individual gold medals out of any other Australian Olympian in history.
She also had an amazing comeback in the 200m backstroke final, where she went from third place at the end of the first length, to going on to break the Olympic record.
“I was a little nervous going out tonight. I’m not one who gets overly nervous, probably more anxious than anything, so I went out hard and held on for dear life,” Kaylee told Matt Nelsen for the Paris Olympics.
Her stellar effort comes three years after winning three gold medals and one bronze medal at the delayed Tokyo Olympics.
McKeown also broke the world records for the 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke at the 2023 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Budapest.
She also holds the top five world record spots and all but one top ten spots, for the 100m backstroke.
McKeown walked side by side with Australian Men’s sailor, Matt Wearn, who won a gold medal in the dinghy sailing event in Paris.
Canoe slalom Jess Fox and hockey legend Eddie Ockenden were Australia’s flag bearers in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
