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Kaylee McKeown withdraws from Commonwealth Games due to illness

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 9, 2026, 10:18 PM

Last updated Jul 9, 2026

Kaylee McKeown withdraws from Commonwealth Games due to illness

Summary

Kaylee McKeown, a five-time Olympic backstroke champion, has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games set to take place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2. The 24-year-old Australian athlete is suffering from glandular fever and will also miss the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in August. McKeown expressed her disappointment, stating that her condition, initially mistaken for flu, has affected her health significantly. Swimming Australia head coach Rohan Taylor endorsed her decision to prioritize her well-being.

Source Links

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Key Details

•McKeown is the reigning Olympic champion in the 100m and 200m backstroke.
•She announced her withdrawal on July 9, as her health worsened.
•The Commonwealth Games swimming events start on July 24.
•McKeown's decision was also supported by Swimming Australia head coach Rohan Taylor.

Latest Updates

1:45 AMThe Guardian Sport — ‘Gutted’: Australian medal hope Kaylee McKeown forced out of Commonwealth Games
11:55 PMYahoo Sports — Olympic gold medalist backstroker McKeown is out of Commonwealth Games with glandular fever
10:18 PMYahoo Sports — Olympic champion McKeown out of Commonwealth Games
10:17 PMBBC Sport — Olympic champion McKeown out of Commonwealth Games

What they're saying

"
Swimmer withdraws from Australia team due to bout of glandular fever Illness to prevent 24-year-old from defending four titles in Glasgow Swim champion Kaylee McKeown is “gutted” that illness has forced her out of the Commonwealth Games in a major blow to Australia’s team. McKeown’s Commonwealth Games career is over after battling glandular fever ahead of the Glasgow edition starting in 13 days. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Australian Associated Press

"
Five-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Kaylee McKeown is out of the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Championships which follow due to glandular fever. The star backstroker won both the 100- and 200-meter distances at the Tokyo Olympics and repeated the feat at the Paris Games in 2024. “I am gutted to medically withdraw,” McKeown said in a Swimming Australia statement Friday.
— Yahoo Sports