TOKYO (Reuters) – Emma McKeon gasped with excitement after winning gold in the Olympic women’s 100m freestyle on Friday as Australia’s women continued their golden run with a fifth title in the Tokyo pool.
McKeon, who had already bagged gold in the 4×100 freestyle relay and bronzes in the 100 butterfly and 4×200 relay, said having the gold medal around her neck was what she came for.
“I’ve never won an Olympics or worlds individual title,” said McKeon. “That’s what the Olympics is all about, to be able to stand on top of that podium.”
The 27-year-old from Wollongong in New South Wales went into the race with the fastest qualifying time and came home in 51.96 seconds, an Olympic record.
“I still can’t believe I’ve just won a gold medal, the emotions will really come out when I get back to Wollo,” she added.
McKeon, whose father and brother both swam at the Olympics, was never headed in the race, finishing 0.31 seconds ahead of Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey with Australia’s Cate Campbell third.
“I’m so proud of you,” Campbell told McKeon as they hugged in the pool.
Rio Olympic champion Penny Oleksiak of Canada was fourth and Sweden’s world record holder Sarah Sjostrom fifth.
McKeon won four medals in Rio, including gold in the 4×100 relay, but came up short in the individual events.
However, she said she never doubted herself for a minute.
“I have done a lot in the past five years, a lot of processing. Many things that have changed,” she said.
“Incredibly proud of who I am out of the pool, I am a person before a swimmer and sometimes that gets lost.
“I never started to wonder or lose belief. I definitely had belief in myself and that built over the last two years.
“To finally see that ‘1’ for my name in an individual spot – I am over the moon.”
(Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
