Australian swimmer Emma McKeon became the first female to win seven medals at a single Olympics with two more golds on Sunday.
She outsprinted the field to win the 50m freestyle before helping Australia win the women’s 4x100m medley relay on the final day of the swimming competition in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, America’s Caeleb Dressel lead his country to victory in 50m freestyle. He swam an inspired butterfly leg in the men’s medley relay and won five gold medals.
Compatriot Robert Finke completed the distance double, gathering a late gush to win the 1,500m freestyle to add to his 800m gold.
‘I’ve worked so hard for it’ – McKeon
The 27-year-old athlete will be departing from Tokyo with four gold medals – two in the individual sprints and two relays.
She had already won the 100m freestyle, and now she added Sunday’s achievement with it too.
McKeon touched in 23.81 to take the women’s 50 free, adding to her victory in the 100.
Then McKeon entered the truly rarified territory in the women’s 4×100 medley relay.
She was soon back in the pool for the medley relay, swimming the butterfly leg as veteran Cate Campbell’s brilliant final leg pushed the United States into silver.
Swede Sarah Sjoestroem on the other hand took home silver and the defending champion Pernille Blume of Denmark, bronze.
With this victory, McKeon joined Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi as the only swimmers to win seven medals at a single Olympics.
The only woman to have achieved the feat in any other sport is Soviet gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya in 1952.
“I look at the athletes who have come before me and been so impressed with what they have done and been inspired by what they have done, but I’ve never really looked at the stats of medal counts,” McKeon said.
“It is an honour because I know I’ve worked so hard for it.”
