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Tokyo Olympics: All the Australian swimming finals action from Day 8

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Chris RobinsonThe West Australian
Kaylee McKeown and Emily Seebohm.
Camera IconKaylee McKeown and Emily Seebohm. Credit: AAP

Kaylee McKeown has pulled off a brilliant backstroke double, becoming just the seventh woman in Olympic history to claim the 100m and 200m titles.

It came as US star Katie Ledecky finally got the better of rival Ariarne Titmus by taking out the 800m freestyle final, with the Aussie star claiming silver.

McKeown’s 200m triumph marked the seventh gold medal in the pool for Australia, just one shy of the nation’s record of eight from all the way back at the 1956 Melbourne Games.

Kaylee McKeown and Emily Seebohm.
Camera IconKaylee McKeown and Emily Seebohm. Credit: AAP

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Compatriot Emily Seebohm also sneaked home for bronze to cap Australia’s domination in the event.

McKeon touched the wall on the final turn in second place and was 0.69sec in arrears of Canada’s Kylie Masse, but powered home to claim gold.

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McKeon gestured to blow the smoke away from her finger ‘gun’ as she celebrated the win.

“I was pretty nervous getting up. The 200 is supposed to be my more dominant event,” she said.

“To come away with another gold is really exciting.

Kaylee McKeown celebrates with Emily Seebohm of after their gold - bronze double.
Camera IconKaylee McKeown celebrates with Emily Seebohm of after their gold - bronze double. Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

McKeown said it had been a special moment to have her medal placed around her neck by Seebohm.

Australia's McKEOWN Kaylee (L) receives the gold medal from her country person SEEBOHM Emily, bronze medalist during the awarding ceremony of the Womens' 200m Backstroke Final  at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Koto Ward  in Tokyo on July 31, 2021.  ( The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images )
Camera IconAustralia's McKEOWN Kaylee (L) receives the gold medal from her country person SEEBOHM Emily, bronze medalist during the awarding ceremony of the Womens' 200m Backstroke Final at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Koto Ward in Tokyo on July 31, 2021. ( The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images ) Credit: Tetsu Joko/AP

“I had a bit of a tear in my eye, to be honest,” she said.

“Em’s been around for so long and I’ve always spoken so highly of her, and for a reason.

“She deserved to be on that gold medal podium as much as I did, so it meant the world to both of us.”

Ledecky claimed her third consecutive Olympic 800m freestyle triumph to get revenge over Titmus, who had got the better of the American to claim gold in the 200m and 400m finals earlier this week.

Ledecky led from start to finish and never really entertained the prospect of a late surge from Titmus, with the Aussie snaring a comfortable silver after beating her personal best by more than two seconds with a time of 8.13.83.

“The 800 is the one that was kind of like a bonus for me - this is a much tougher field for me,” Titmus said.

“I knew I had to hurt tonight.

“I tried to reel her back in at the end... but I did my best and I’m pretty happy with the PB.”

Ariarne Titmus.
Camera IconAriarne Titmus. Credit: IPA/Sipa USA

Titmus, who said she was “looking forward to a good break” after her Tokyo heroics, said she had enjoyed her rivalry with Ledecky across the past week.

“Even though we have a great rivalry when we race, it’s not like that when we’re not racing,” she said.

“She’s a great person and a tough competitor, and I know she would have worked so hard to be where she is.

“I’m truly honoured that I’m the person that’s in the battle with her at the moment.”

Seebohm, 29, was overcome with emotion post-race after competing in what will likely be her final Olympics.

“It’s so amazing. I never thought this was going to happen again,” she said.

Australia rounded out the penultimate morning in the pool with a bronze medal in the inaugural mixed 4x100m medley relay final, with Great Britain snaring gold.

McKeown (backstroke), Zac Stubblety-Cook (breaststroke), Matt Temple (butterfly) and Emma McKeon (freestyle) produced the goods, with McKeon holding off a late surge from US dynamo Caeleb Dressel in the even pitting women and men against one another.

McKeon had just minutes earlier qualified fastest for tomorrow’s 50m freestyle sprint by breaking yet another Olympic record with a time of 24.00, while Cate Campbell also made it through to the final.

Earlier, Dressel broke the world record in romping to a 100m butterfly gold, to go with his 100m freestyle gold.

Temple finished equal fifth.

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