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Emma McKeon makes more history in incredible act at Comm Games

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Emma McKeon, pictured here after becoming the most decorated athlete in Commonwealth Games history.
Emma McKeon has become the most decorated athlete in Commonwealth Games history. Image: Getty

Aussie swimming superstar Emma McKeon has sealed her place in Commonwealth Games folklore after breaking the record for most medals ever won at the Games.

McKeon added another gold and bronze medal to her incredible tally in Birmingham on Tuesday night - taking her career haul to 19 and the most ever.

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The previous record for most Commonwealth medals was 18, shared by South African swimmer Chad le Clos and two shooters - Australia's Phillip Adams and England's Mick Gault.

On Monday McKeon broke the record for most gold medals in Commonwealth Games history, and now she also has the record for most total medals.

McKeon reached the landmark in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final - the final race of a pulsating night of action at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre - with Australia taking gold.

Emma McKeon, Matthew Temple, Zac Stubblety-Cook and Kaylee McKeown, pictured here after winning the mixed 4x100m medley relay at the Commonwealth Games.
Emma McKeon, Matthew Temple, Zac Stubblety-Cook and Kaylee McKeown, celebrate after winning the mixed 4x100m medley relay at the Commonwealth Games. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

McKeon swam an incredible anchor leg to help Matthew Temple, Zac Stubblety-Cook and Kaylee McKeown claim victory.

She now has 13 golds in her career - three more than any other athlete in Commonwealth Games history - with five golds, one silver and a bronze coming in Birmingham.

The 28-year-old suffered a shock defeat in the 100m freestyle final earlier in the session, as 18-year-old compatriot Mollie O'Callaghan won gold.

McKeon won gold in the event at the Tokyo Olympics last year but had to settle for bronze behind O'Callaghan and Shayna Jack in an Aussie clean sweep.

"I'm really happy. And I'm happy to do it with these amazing girls. Especially Emma. She is an absolute idol," O'Callaghan said after the race.

"It is really nice to race alongside her at this time.

"And especially Shayna Jack too, coming back from stuff, so I'm very happy."

McKeon is all-but certain to feature on Australia's favoured women's 4x100 medley relay team on the last night at the pool on Wednesday.

If she wins gold again she will equal the record of Ian Thorpe and Susie O'Neill for most golds at a single Games - six.

O'Neill achieved that feat in 1998, while Thorpe equalled the record four years later.

But while the records keep tumbling, McKeon remains unfazed at rewriting history.

"I don't ever go out and get rattled," she said.

"I'm out there prepared, in control of my mind and I'm not going let another outside things get in the way.

"I let my performances do the talking."

McKeon won four gold and two bronze at the Glasgow Games in 2014, and four gold and two bronze at the 2018 edition on the Gold Coast.

Most Commonwealth Games medals ever:

19: Emma McKeon (Australia, swimming) - 13 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze from three Games (2014, 2018, 2022)

18: Chad le Clos (South Africa, swimming) - 7 gold, 4 silver, 7 bronze from four Games (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)

18: Phillip Adams (Australia, shooting) - 7 gold 9 silver 2 bronze from five Games (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 2002)

18: Mick Gault (England, shooting) - 9 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze from six Games (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)

with agencies

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