Paris Olympics: High drama as Kaylee McKeown wins another medal in controversial finish that sees Aussie benefit from some good karma

Record-breaking Aussie golden girl Kaylee McKeown has taken bronze in the women’s 200m individual medley in Paris thanks to a last-second drama that lifted her onto the podium after she finished fourth.

The Queenslander came in behind gold medallist Summer McIntosh of Canada, with Americans Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh touching the wall in second and third respectively.

However, Walsh was disqualified for an incorrect turn as the field shifted from backstroke to breaststroke turn – the exact same infringement that saw McKeown bumped out of the semifinals of the event at the world championships last year.

That decision by officials last July left the 23-year-old furious after she entered the race as one of the favourites.

‘I didn’t see my turn last night but when I saw it this morning I thought it was completely unfair … s**t happens,’ she said after the decision in 2023.

‘We have footage and other angles that say otherwise to what the officials saw. You’ve got to go with what they’re saying. That’s the rules and I broke the rules, apparently. I can’t do much about that.

‘Unfortunately, some people get dealt a bad hand. It’s a matter of trying to flip it into a positive and give a big ‘eff you’.’

According to the rules, swimmers must not rotate past 90 degrees onto the front of their body as they shift from backstroke to breaststroke – and Walsh was caught crossing that line at the 100m mark of the event on Sunday morning, Australian time.

Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh (centre) took gold, with the USA’s Kate Douglass (left) winning silver – but her fellow American Alex Walsh had her third-placed finish taken away by the judges

The drama saw McKeown win her seventh Olympic medal after she set multiple records by defending her Games 200m backstroke crown on Saturday.

Her victory made her the first Australian to win four individual Olympic gold medals.

McKeown is also the first swimmer to successfully defend the 100m and 200m backstroke titles in Olympic history.

She now has five golds in her Olympic career, with a women’s 4x100m medley victory at the Tokyo Games three years ago also in her collection.

‘It’s a pretty cool little thing to have next to my name and, you know, I looked up to so many great people growing up in this sport. To be amongst that, it’s amazing,’ she said. 

‘I believe I have so much more to give in this sport. I think it’s honestly down to my coach and teammates. Those people and being surrounded by people like Emma, they are great.’

And most of all she dedicated the win to her family.

Alex Walsh is pictured just after she was disqualified in Paris

The bronze will now reside in a very crowded trophy cabinet after McKeown’s win in the 200m backstroke (pictured) saw her break multiple records

‘It’s probably more than what the medal means to me. I can’t put the words together [to say] how much I love my family,’ she said.

‘It’s a privilege to be here tonight, being in the stadium with so many people, being on the podium seeing my team and family behind me it’s surreal.’

Emma McKeon holds the Australian record for most Olympic golds – she has won six, with four coming in relays.

McKeown kept her 200m backstroke title in stunning style, clocking an Olympic record time of two minutes 03.73 seconds, some 0.59 seconds shy of her world record set last year in Sydney.

McKeown was third after at the midpoint and second at the final turn before powering to victory ahead of American Regan Smith (2:04.26) and Canada’s Kylie Masse (2:05.57).