Emma McKeon stands alone as Australia’s greatest Olympic champion after separating herself from Ian Thorpe at the first opportunity in Paris.
The 30-year-old drew level with her fellow swimming legend on five golds in Tokyo and had to wait three years to get another crack at the record.
McKeon wasted no time taking out her sixth win, and 12th medal overall, as Australia won 4x100m freestyle relay gold on the first night in the pool.
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While it is hard to believe she was not aware of the looming slice of history, McKeon was stunned to be reminded on the pool deck.
“Wow. I don’t keep track of that kind of stuff. I hear it from you guys. It’s an honour really,” she told Nine.
Thorpe confessed he thought McKeon had already surpassed him after Tokyo but celebrated her achievement.
“It’s great,” he said.
“Couldn’t happen to a better person, really.”
The 41-year-old said it was clear McKeon, having already announced this will be her last Olympics, was taking it all in and “enjoying these moments”.
“She is the most successful swimmer, the most successful Olympian, in our country,” he said.
“She should be celebrated for the person that she is, what she’s been able to deliver for the sport.”
McKeon will now eye off more gold medals to extend her lead at the top.
She will seek to go back-to-back in the 50m and 100m freestyle, just as Ariarne Titmus did in the 400m freestyle earlier on Saturday night (Monday AEST).
Titmus became the first Australian to defend an individual gold medal since Dawn Fraser won a hat-trick of 100m freestyle titles at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics.
“I can’t really believe that’s me,” Titmus said of joining Fraser.
