- Kaylee McKeown has successfully defended her Olympic gold medal
- McKeown’s brother embarrassed his mother in a poolside interview
- The family was delighted with McKeown’s exciting victory.
Kaylee McKeown’s brother shocked his mother with a hilariously off-color comment in a live poolside interview after the Australian’s thrilling victory in the 100m backstroke final in Paris.
McKeown became only the second woman to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the 100-meter backstroke with a thrilling triumph Tuesday night in Paris.
The 23-year-old claimed Australia’s sixth gold in Paris – the first time the country has won gold medals in the first four days of an Olympic Games.
Australia’s 4x200m freestyle relay team claimed a bronze medal, while the weapons freestyle athletes – Kyle Chalmers in the men and Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack in the women – secured places in the 100m freestyle medal races.
Speaking to Channel Nine after the race, McKeown’s family were in party mode.
Mom Sharon was relieved that her daughter had claimed victory with a late attack.
“She came fourth, but she always has a nice butt,” he said.
“We are glad that he made it.”
Kaylee McKeown successfully defended her Olympic gold medal in Paris in a thrilling comeback victory
McKeown’s brother Lachlan (third from left) said his elated mother Sharon (second from left) nearly “shit herself” before the race, leaving her slitting her throat to shut her up during her interview with Nine.
Sharon began to explain how nervous she felt before the race and her son Lachlan chimed in to add: “She was about to shit herself. She was so nervous she couldn’t contain herself. Sorry Shaz Dog, I have to tell the truth.”
Sharon laughed, but was clearly surprised by the outburst and made a throat-slitting motion with her finger to try and shut him up.
“You’d expect sons to always put their mothers on the spot. Oh my God, you were so nervous!” laughed Nine’s Roz Kelly.
Sharon replied: “I was nervous, yes, I think I was. But at the end of the day, regardless of the outcome, you are still proud of your children, whether they win or lose, they are here. That is all you can do.”
McKeown joins American Natalie Coughlin as the only women to successfully defend their Olympic 100m backstroke titles.
Kaylee’s brothers, Bailey and Lachlan, are in Paris supporting their sister.
The 23-year-old gave Australia its sixth gold of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday morning.
She outperformed American world record holder Regan Smith, competing in the spirit of her father Sholto, who passed away in 2020 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer.
“I have a little superpower and that’s my dad… I know he’s here in spirit,” she said.
McKeown won in an Olympic record time of 57.33 seconds, while Smith took silver in 57.66. Australian Olympic debutant Iona Anderson, aged 18, finished fifth.
“Kaylee is an absolutely incredible runner and knows what to do when needed,” Smith said.