McKeown pulls out of key event at Commonwealth Games trials after illness drama

June 8, 2026
11:02 am

Kaylee McKeown is in danger of missing the women’s 200m individual medley at the Commonwealth Games after being struck down by illness on the opening day of trials in Sydney.

McKeown, the Australian record-holder in the event, withdrew from the 200m IM heats on Monday morning at Sydney Olympic Park. McKeown was able to race a 50m backstroke heat, which she won, later in Monday’s session.

Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown.AP

While McKeown is known primarily as a backstroker, having won gold in the 100m and 200m at both the Olympics and world championships, the 200m IM loomed as a prime medal opportunity at next month’s Commonwealth Games due to the absence of reigning world champion Summer McIntosh.

The 200m IM final will be held on Monday night without McKeown. There remains, however, a pathway for McKeown to race it at the Commonwealth Games given she is almost certain to make the Australian team through the 100m or 200m backstroke. Team officials then have the option of entering McKeown in the 200 IM in Glasgow.

However, if three Australians swim under the Commonwealth Games qualifying standard of 2:10.49 in Monday night’s final, it is unlikely that McKeown will be unable to contest the event in Glasgow.

Ella Ramsay (2:10.70), Tara Kinder (2:12.05) and Jenna Forrester (2:13.52) all posted encouraging times in the heats and could threaten the qualifying mark in the final.

McKeown finished fourth in the event at the Paris Olympics in 2024, but was later elevated to bronze after American swimmer Alex Walsh was disqualified.

A year earlier at the 2023 world championships, McKeown was disqualified in her 200m IM semi-final for a stroke violation in the transition from backstroke to breaststroke.

However, McKeown is likely to compete the event at Pan Pacs in August, given there is greater flexibility with entries.

Despite the illness, McKeown won her 50m backstroke heat and looks set to compete in that final on Monday evening. She is the world record holder in the event.