Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games team due to a bout of glandular fever, ending her chance to defend four gold medals in Glasgow. The 24-year-old backstroke ace described herself as “gutted” by the medical withdrawal, which comes just 13 days before the Games begin.
Illness forces withdrawal
McKeown, who turns 25 on Sunday, had declared Glasgow would be her last Commonwealth Games and aimed to repeat her four-gold medal performance from the Birmingham Games four years ago. However, she has been battling glandular fever, initially mistaken for the flu.
“I am gutted to medically withdraw,” McKeown said. “What I thought a few months ago was flu has turned out to be my body fighting glandular fever.”
Impact on Australian team
McKeown was set to be the star attraction in the Glasgow pool, especially with Canada’s Summer McIntosh, who holds four individual world records, skipping the Games. She raced while sick at Australia’s swim selection trials from 23 July to 2 August, dropping the 200m individual medley but qualifying in her pet events, the 100m and 200m backstroke.
“I was sick going into trials and I have just not got better,” she said. “I am worried about pushing myself so hard that I end up with chronic fatigue. It was a hard decision to make but the right one.”
McKeown will also miss the Pan Pacific Championships that follow Glasgow. The five-time Olympic gold medallist was joint closing ceremony flag-bearer in Paris in 2024 after becoming the first Australian to win four individual Olympic titles.
Support from team officials
Australia’s Commonwealth Games team chef de mission Petria Thomas wished McKeown a speedy recovery with an eye on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. “Kaylee is an outstanding swimmer and fierce competitor,” Thomas said. “To see her forced to withdraw for medical reasons is an unfortunate outcome for both her and the Australian Commonwealth Games team. We wish her a speedy recovery and know that she will bounce back to her best ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”
Australian swim team outlook
The Australian swim team, now 59-strong, are hot favourites to extend their Commonwealth domination. They won 65 medals at the Birmingham pool four years ago, including 25 golds, just three shy of the nation’s record gold haul at the 2018 Gold Coast Games. Australia is sending about 430 athletes and staff to Glasgow with an aim of claiming top spot on the medal table for a 15th time in 23 Games.
