Kaylee McKeown and Emily Seebohm finished first and third in the Olympic 200m backstroke final then shared an experience on the podium that demonstrates the incredible spirint within the Dolphins swim team set up.
Seebohm, in her fourth Olympics, aasked to present McKeown, in her first, with her gold medal, and in return McKeown invited her teammate to stand atop the dais with her for the anthem.
McKeown backed up her historic gold medal in the 100m backstroke by winning the 200m – becoming the first Australian to collect both backstroke gold medals at the same Olympics.
A beautiful moment for Australia????????
Kaylee McKeown invited teammate Emily Seebohm to share the top step of the podium with her during the playing of their national anthem. #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/olJ0lPHBnj
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 31, 2021
Put this on repeat ????
Kaylee McKeown shares the highest platform of the podium with Emily Seebohm ????????#7Olympics | #Tokyo2020 | #Swimming pic.twitter.com/uhM33LnL9j
— 7Olympics (@7olympics) July 31, 2021
Kylie Masse of Canada was the pacesetter but McKeown mowed her down in the last lap to win in 2:04.68. Seebohm, in what is likely to be her last swim at an Olympics, produced an outstanding swim and touch on the wall to take third in 2:06.17.
GOLD & BRONZE FOR AUSTRALIA ????
Kaylee McKeown wins gold in the 200 backstroke final! Emily Seebohm finishes with the bronze in a memorable race for Australia.#Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics | #Swimming pic.twitter.com/lyIbIhAAqK
— 7Olympics (@7olympics) July 31, 2021
The win gave McKeown an outstanding 100m-200m backstroke double, while Seebohm’s third gives her a medal at all four of her Olympic appearances.
Seebohm joins Cate Campbell and Leisel Jones as the only Aussie swimmers to win medals at four Games, and she was a blubbering mess in her post-race interview.
"I never thought this was going to happen again." ????????
You are amazing, Emily Seebohm! #Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics | #Swimming pic.twitter.com/F4clTSFBZA
— 7Olympics (@7olympics) July 31, 2021
“I feel a bit like wine, it gets better as it ages. I feel like a fine wine at the moment,” she says.
McKeown, who became an instant celebrated her first goal by dropping an f-bomb on live TV, whooped at the end after claiming a seventh gold medal in the pool – matching the best haul by an Aussie swim team at an Olympics away from home.
Before they listened to the anthem, McKeown invited Seebohm onto the podium.
“She deserves to be on that gold medal podium as much as I do,” McKeown said.
Seebohm revealed she had asked McKeown if she could present her with the gold medal.
“I asked Kaylee before the medal ceremony if I could present her the gold medal, she has been an absolute legend not just this meet but for years,” Seebohm said on Instagram.
“Kaylee you are truly the most amazing humble beautiful person and giving you your medal and sharing the podium with you goes down in history as one of my favourite moments in swimming.”
Ariarne Titmus jumped in straight after in the 800m freestyle and finished with silver, 1.26 seconds behind US legend Katie Ledecky.
Titmus won the 200m and 400m golds with the American adding the 1500m to the 800m.
“The 800 was a bonus, this is a much tougher field,” Titmus told Channel 7 after the race.
“We’re all around the same time at the moment, obviously Ledecky’s world record is insane.
“I knew we’d all be at the same pace. I knew I had to hurt tonight. I tried to hold on, I’m not sure I did that, I tried to reel her in. ”
Titmus also paid tribute to the American.
"I'm still really honoured that I'm the person that's in the battle with her [Ledecky] at the moment and I hope that we can continue it going."
The rivalry continues ????#7Olympics | #Tokyo2020 | #Swimming pic.twitter.com/E5l10YcGZ1
— 7Olympics (@7olympics) July 31, 2021
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