Commonwealth Games: Emma McKeon Adds to Growing Medal Haul With Title in 50 Butterfly

Commonwealth Games: Emma McKeon Adds to Growing Medal Haul With Title in 50 Butterfly

Take a quick look at this selective list of Emma McKeon medal hauls.

Six from the 2017 World Championships.
Six from the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Six from the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships.
Six from the 2019 World Championships.
Seven from the 2020 Olympic Games

Each time the Australian star ventures into international competition, her wide-ranging talent and critical relay contributions lead to the collection of considerable hardware. The same scenario is unfolding at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where the 28-year-old has already won five medals and still has two days of competition remaining.

In her most recent medal chase, McKeon got her hand on the wall first in the 50-meter butterfly, as her time of 25.90 was quick enough to turn back the field at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre. McKeon led a pair of Australians onto the podium, as countrywoman Holly Barratt shared the silver medal with South African Erin Gallagher. Barratt and Gallagher turned in matching times of 26.05, and finished ahead of Canadian Maggie Mac Neil, who was fourth in 26.17.

McKeon has now won three individual medals in Birmingham, her title in the 50 fly complemented by silver in the 100 fly and gold in the 50 freestyle. She has also contributed to a pair of triumphant relays and has additional podium opportunities awaiting. Most notably, she’ll go after gold in the 100 freestyle, an event in which qualified as the top seed for the final about an hour before she contested the 50 butterfly.

While McKeon has been a veteran of global competitions, it was her seven-medal take from the Tokyo Olympics that brought the greatest light onto her vast talent. Throughout her career, McKeon has consistently excelled in the freestyle and butterfly events, demonstrating her skill from 50 to 200 meters. Of late, the 50- and 100-meter distances have taken priority as she’s built her career medal haul to 50-plus.

This summer, McKeon opted to skip the World Championships in Budapest and place her emphasis on the Commonwealth Games. After being under the spotlight in Tokyo, she was owed a break and racing at a pair of international meets in the same season was not ideal. Obviously, she prepared superbly for her appearance in England.

“Kind of, I take it one at a time,” McKeon said of her busy schedule and medals collection. “The guy in the marshalling area asked: ‘How many medals have you won? I actually couldn’t tell him because I am kind of just focused on what I am doing at that moment. I think that’s how I get through the week, just take it one at a time, because I am doing 16 races here. That was my 12th, or 13th. For that heavy workload, you have to take it one at a time. Otherwise, it gets too overwhelming.”

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