Decorated Olympian wins Queensland Athlete of the Year at Queensland Sport Awards

Named Australia’s most awarded Olympian alongside teammate Mollie O’Callaghan at Paris 2024, home-grown hero Kaylee McKeown was recently awarded Athlete of the Year at the Queensland Sport Awards.

Held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday 21 November, the Queensland Sport Awards and Hall of Fame Induction event celebrated outstanding members of the Queensland sporting community from grassroots through to high performance.

Although McKeown was up against several other Olympic gold medallists and outstanding athletes currently doing Australia proud on the world stage, her myriad of achievements over the last year secured her the top gong.

A star of the Australian Dolphins and our Olympic team, McKeown added new entries to the record books and entered national swimming folklore over the past 12 months.

After claiming the women’s 50 metre backstroke world record in October 2023, McKeown became the first person to hold all three long course records over 50, 100 and 200 metres. Also breaking the 100-metre backstroke world record at the same meet, she was recognised as World Swimming’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2023. 

The Paris 2024 Olympics proved the perfect environment for McKeown to continue cementing her legend, as she became the first female swimmer to defend the 100 metre and 200 metre backstroke Olympic titles, both in Olympic record time, and the first Australian in any sport to win four individual Olympic gold medals. 

Her final Paris haul included a relay silver and two bronze medals in the mixed medley relay and 200 metre individual medley, meaning she now holds nine Olympic medals from just two games.

Kaylee was chosen as a flag bearer for the Paris Closing Ceremony and after returning home, was recognised as Swimming Australia’s Olympic Program Swimmer of the Year. 

Image credit - Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)