Kaylee McKeown: Shock Backstroke Withdrawal An Investment For Paris Experience

SHOCK WITHDRAWAL: Kaylee McKeown was a shock withdrawal from today's backstroke heats with the medley on her mind. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).

Kaylee McKeown: Shock Backstroke Withdrawal An Investment For Paris Experience

Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown surprisingly withdrew before today’s 100m backstroke heats in Budapest, a decision that is all about an investment in her future 200m individual medley plans as she plots her Olympic pathway towards Paris 2024, according to Dolphins head coach Rohan Taylor.

McKeown will race her first international 200 individual medley final tonight and the world record holder’s withdrawal from one of her two signature backstroke events came as a shock before the start of the second day’s heats.

But Taylor was quick to shed some light on the decision, telling News Corp: “The number one thing her coach Michael Bohl wants to do is give her international experience in that medley for an investment going forward.

“Obviously it’s up to her and her confidence and it’s basically she’ll feel more confident just putting all her eggs in the basket for that medley and going for that.

“It’s more about managing her programme. She’s going to have a lot of mixed relays, medley relays, 200m back, 50m back, the program’s quite extensive for this week and then we’ve got the Comm Games as well. So taking the opportunity to give her a real shot at the 200m medley to see what she can do fully prepared and that’s basically what they did.

“It’s obviously a big call but it’s an about the long term development.

“She’ll still race (100m backstroke) at the Commonwealth Games and obviously at some point she’ll have to look at the double, that’s the reality but for now it’s just helping her just get used to it.”

McKeown is racing the medley for the first time on the world stage in Budapest and qualified third fastest for tonight’s final.

She will not race the 200m IM in Birmingham and will replace it with the 400m IM.

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