Kaylee McKeown withdraws from Commonwealth Games due to illness
Consensus Summary
Five-time Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow due to glandular fever, a decision she described as 'gutted' but necessary for her health. Both sources confirm she will also miss the Pan Pacific Championships and had qualified for the 100m and 200m backstroke events, though the ABC notes she dropped the 200m individual medley. The Games begin in 13 days, from 23 July to 2 August, and Australia is sending a team of 59 athletes, aiming for a 15th top spot on the medal table in 23 Commonwealth Games. McKeownâs absence is a major blow, as she won six medals, including four golds, at the 2022 Birmingham Games, and her withdrawal leaves Australia with a 59-strong swim team. The Guardian adds that she was a flag-bearer in Paris in 2024 and that Australia won 65 medals in Birmingham, three short of their record gold haul at the 2018 Gold Coast Games. Both sources emphasize her health as the priority, with hopes for her recovery ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Five-time Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown withdrew from the Commonwealth Games due to glandular fever
- McKeown will also miss the Pan Pacific Championships in California
- The Commonwealth Games are scheduled from 23 July to 2 August
- Australia is sending 59 athletes to the Commonwealth Games
- McKeown won six medals, including four golds, at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games
- The 2018 Gold Coast Games were referenced as a record-setting event for Australia
- McKeown qualified in the 100m and 200m backstroke events for the Games
- McKeown is a backstroke ace and was set to compete in the 200m individual medley, 100m, and 200m backstroke
- Australia aims to claim top spot on the medal table for a 15th time in 23 Commonwealth Games
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- McKeown struggled with fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of appetite for several months
- Swimming Australia's Olympic head coach, Rohan Taylor, stated McKeown is a 'once-in-a-generation athlete'
- McKeown modified her training program to avoid high-intensity work after trials
- McKeown starred at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, winning six medals, including four golds
- McKeown declared Glasgow would be her last Commonwealth Games
- McKeown was joint closing ceremony flag-bearer in Paris in 2024
- McKeown is 25 years old
- Australia won 65 medals at the Birmingham Games, including 25 golds, three shy of the nationâs record gold haul at the 2018 Gold Coast Games
- Australia is sending about 430 athletes and staff to Glasgow
- Petria Thomas, Australiaâs Commonwealth Games team chef de mission, wished McKeown a speedy recovery ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The ABC states McKeown dropped the 200m individual medley at trials, while the Guardian does not mention this specific event being dropped
Source Articles
McKeown 'gutted' as illness forces Commonwealth Games withdrawal
Kaylee McKeown withdraws from the Commonwealth Games after glandular fever causes shortness of breath and a loss of appetite.
âGuttedâ: Australian medal hope Kaylee McKeown forced out of Commonwealth Games
Swimmer withdraws from Australia team due to bout of glandular fever Illness to prevent 24-year-old from defending four titles in Glasgow Swim champion Kaylee McKeown is âguttedâ that illness has forced her out of the Commonwealth Games in a major blow to Australiaâs team. McKeownâs Commonwealth Games career is over after battling glandular fever ahead of the Glasgow edition starting in 13 days. Continue reading...