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Kaylee McKeown Medically Withdraws From Pan Pacific Championships, Commonwealth Games
The five-time Olympic gold medallist will also miss next month’s Pan Pacific Championships after blood tests confirmed glandular fever.
On Friday, five-time Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown withdrew from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after blood tests confirmed glandular fever, less than two weeks before competition begins.
McKeown initially mistook her symptoms for the flu a few months ago, but months of fatigue, breathlessness, and loss of appetite persisted despite her efforts to push through training.
Her withdrawal is a significant loss for the Australian Commonwealth Games Team, which will field 59 athletes in Glasgow; McKeown previously won six medals at Birmingham in 2022, including four golds.
Swimming Australia Olympic head coach Rohan Taylor called McKeown a "once-in-a-generation athlete" and expressed full support for prioritizing her health, saying "We can't wait to see her well again."
The backstroke specialist also withdrew from next month's Pan Pacific Championships in California, with team officials focusing on her recovery ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.