McKeon Wins Sixth Olympic Gold as Australia Dominates Freestyle Relay

AFP/APP

Paris: Australia swam the second fastest time in history on Saturday to claim the women’s 4x100m freestyle title, with Emma McKeon earning her sixth Olympic gold medal.

The Australian team, consisting of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, McKeon, and Meg Harris, finished in 3 minutes 28.92 seconds, outperforming the United States (3:30.20) and China (3:30.30). Harris anchored the team with a blistering split of 51.94 seconds, while O’Callaghan’s strong start provided an immediate advantage.

McKeon, who shone in Tokyo and is competing in her final Olympics, added to her impressive medal tally with her sixth gold and 12th overall. “Wow. I don’t keep track of that kind of stuff … it’s an honor really,” she told Australian media. 

“Being part of this 4x100m relay team is extremely special. It’s a team effort, including Bronte Campbell and Olivia Wunsch—we couldn’t have done it without this group of six.”

Australia’s victory marks their fourth consecutive Olympic gold in the event, with their time second only to their own world record of 3:27.96 set last year. The team has held the world record since 2014, breaking it four times since then.

The win was particularly meaningful for Jack, who missed the Tokyo Olympics due to a contested doping ban. 

Jack, who tested positive for the muscle growth agent ligandrol in June 2019, was banned for four years despite her claims of innocence and contamination. The Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport later concluded that Jack “did not intentionally ingest ligandrol,” but the decision came too late for her to compete in Tokyo.

Reflecting on her return, Jack said, “I’ve already proven my redemption by being here, so this is all about enjoying the experience. It’s a really special moment to stand on the podium with my teammates and represent the girls from our heat swim. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but I definitely missed that opportunity in 2021.”