- Emma McKeon ran her last individual event at the Olympics
- The Australian veteran finished sixth in the 100-meter butterfly final.
- McKeon to compete in medley relay in Paris
Emma McKeon ended her individual Olympic career with a sixth place in the 100-meter butterfly final in Paris.
The veteran Australian, fresh from a triumph in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday, had little chance of adding to her medal haul at the Paris Aquatics Centre, where she faced a strong field on Sunday.
And it was no surprise when McKeon hit the wall in sixth place in 56.93 seconds, while American Torri Huske stunned her world record-holding teammate Gretchen Walsh to take the top prize.
McKeon intends to retire at the conclusion of these Olympics and will compete in the upcoming medley relay.
While she is competing in Paris, her boyfriend Cody Simpson is not. The former pop star turned her back on swimming to pursue her dream of representing Australia at the Olympics, but failed to qualify for the Games.
The 27-year-old praised his girlfriend after her gold medal in the relay.
“We’re all proud of her,” Simpson told Nine.
“She will say it with great humility. She will never say it, but what she has done is very special.
Emma McKeon competed in her last individual race at the Olympics
“It’s amazing. He swam very fast this morning. He really wanted to be in the final and get on the podium.
“I’m very proud of her for having achieved this.”
McKeon’s victory on Saturday also allowed him to surpass Ian Thorpe’s record of five Olympic gold medals, taking his haul to six.
“It’s fantastic,” Thorpe said on commentary.
“It really couldn’t happen to a better person.”
‘She is the most successful swimmer, the most successful Olympian in our country.
“She should be celebrated for who she is and what she has been able to contribute to the sport.”