If anyone had the right to a moment of reflection in Paris this year, it was Australia’s most decorated Olympian, Emma McKeon.
After narrowly missing out on a spot for the London Games in 2012, the Wollongong swimmer went on to make – and break – records in Rio, Tokyo and Paris, earning her 14 medals: six golds, three silvers and five bronze. (The closest to her is fellow swimming great Ian Thorpe, with nine medals.)
But as she emerged from the Paris pool after her last individual Olympic event for Australia – the 100m butterfly final – McKeon, who finished sixth, gave herself only a moment to take it all in and reflect on what she’d achieved.
“It was always going to be emotional finishing something that has brought me so much joy,” she said, looking up into the stands at her parents, Susie and Ron, and siblings, David and Kaitlin, as she dried herself off and wiped away a few tears.
It may not have been the fairytale ending she had envisioned – after enduring a muscle tear before Paris, McKeon secured a spot on the team, albeit not in her signature 50m and 100m
freestyle events – but her trademark humility made for a remarkably graceful exit. Plus, she still walked away with three medals from the games.
Reflecting on the experience now, McKeon, 30, takes immense pride in her gold-medal performance in the 4×100 freestyle relay in Paris.
“Leading in was definitely the hardest preparation I have had. I lost a lot of confidence in my swimming and felt a lot of pressure to back-up what I had done in Tokyo. But I’m proud of how I handled it and proud I could still step up for my team while feeling the self-doubt.”
It’s this champion quality that has made her a natural fit for ambassadorial roles with brands like Dior and Omega. And now, as she looks to the future, she hopes to share valuable lessons with a new generation. “Great things take time, and the long road there is where all the necessary things are learnt to take us to the next level.”
marie claire’s 2024 Women of the Year Awards are presented by Swarovski and supported by Volvo, Max Mara, Revlon, Dr Lewinns and G.H. Mumm.
