Kaylee McKeown on Sara Curtis Breaking her 50 Again WR: “It Fuels the Fire… I’m All for Taking People Down”

One of the most important swims of the summer time belonged to Italian dash star Sara Curtis, who broke the 50 backstroke World Record twice in 24 hours on the European Championships in Paris. Though the swimmer she took that document from, Australia’s Kaylee McKeown, is poised to take that document again sooner or later.

In a report from the Sydney Morning Herald’s Tom Decent, McKeown, who withdrew from each the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships after contracting mononucleosis, in any other case often called glandular fever, is working to mount a comeback, although we won’t see her race at both the World Cup all through October or the Short Course World Championships in December, selecting to deal with her well being and restoration, with the lengthy course world championships in thoughts.

“My health comes first and I want to be ready for next year and the year after,” McKeown said in the report from the Sydney Morning Herald. “If that means taking the rest of the year off, that’s what I have to do. The end goal for me is getting to LA and being in the best shape possible. I’m not even close to where I want to be. But I’m also being patient with myself.”

The set again prevented her from racing in two of the most important competitions of the season this summer time, a summer time the place different abilities would make some serous noise, primarily Sara Curtis within the 50 again.

Curtis blasted a 26.63 within the semifinals of the European Championships, which initially lowered McKeown’s former mark of 26.86 from 2023, earlier than later clocking an excellent quicker time in 26.56. Rather than really feel intimidated by the point, she appears on the new customary as gasoline.

“It fuels the fire in the belly… I’m all for taking people down,” McKeown said in the report from the Sydney Morning Herald. “Mentally, it takes the pressure off me. She’s going to be asked all the hard questions. She’s the one who’s supposed to win this event. I’m just going in trying to chase her down. That’s the way I like it going in.”

She provides that she is not a assure to land on the rostrum, which additionally provides motivation to return again even stronger.

“I think it’s going to be really hard for me to get on the podium. I wouldn’t be as hungry if I knew it was a guarantee that I was going to stand on a podium.” McKeown stated. “Seeing my world record in the 50 get taken, Regan still having the 100 backstroke world record and me only holding the 200 backstroke world record, probably not for much longer, those things are always in the back of my mind and drive me.”

Despite the setbacks and restricted competitors going ahead, McKeown doesn’t really feel as if she is finished throwing down some large instances.

“I believe I have more in the tank, I don’t want as much external pressure from media and extended friends. I don’t really care because I’ve achieved more than I ever thought I could. I’ve achieved stuff that some people will never be able to do. I’m OK with whatever happens.” McKeown stated. “Ultimately, I’d love a three-peat of the 100 and 200 backstroke, but if I can’t do that, who’s going to be able to take my medals away? No one can. You can take world records. They’re meant to be broken.”