Aussie swim star McKeown out of Commonwealth Games
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Swimming star Kaylee McKeown is out of the Commonwealth Games in a major blow for the Australian team.
The five-time Olympic champion has glandular fever and will miss both the Glasgow event and the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships that follow.
“I am gutted to medically withdraw,” said the backstroke ace. “What I thought a few months ago was flu has turned out to be my body fighting glandular fever.
“I was sick going into trials and I have just not got better and I am worried about pushing myself so hard that I end up with chronic fatigue. It was a hard decision to make but the right one.”
Australian team chef de mission Petria Thomas wished McKeown well while hoping for the best possible recovery for her with the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in mind.
“Kaylee is an outstanding swimmer and fierce competitor and to see her forced to withdraw for medical reasons is an unfortunate outcome for both her and the Australian Commonwealth Games Team,” Thomas said.
“We wish her a speedy recovery and know that she will bounce back to her best ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23 to August 2, with the six-day swimming event starting on July 24.
AAP