Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown, who is also a world record holder, claimed the 100 Olympic backstroke gold on Tuesday. In doing so she upstaged American arch-rival Regan Smith. McKeown flew through the water at the Tokyo Aquatic Center to finish in 57.47 seconds (a new Olympic record). This timing was also fractionally outside her own world record.

An elated McKewon could not contain her excitement and that was evident from a live TV interview where she dropped the F-bomb. But as soon as she realised it, she had a smile on her face and corrected herself.

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Her mother told Australian media: “Swearing on TV! I will have to have a word to her later.”

After receiving her gold medal, McKeown was informed of her mum’s comments but said she wasn’t worried about getting in trouble.

“I think I might be mum’s favourite for a little bit now. Just a little bit,” she said.

The 20-year-old Australian swimmer broke Regan’s world record at the Australian trials last month, setting a new mark of 57.45. This meant that there would be a highly anticipated showdown in Tokyo.

“My legs were definitely hurting in the last 20,” said an ecstatic McKeown, who switched up a gear to storm home after Masse turned first.

“I’m sure it would have been pretty noticeable on the TV but I trained for that and I knew that I had a really strong back end and a really good chance to be on the podium.”

Just before the Games, McKeown lost her father to brain cancer. She also has a tattoo on her foot that says “I’ll always be with you” in honour of her father.

“It’s not necessarily what I’ve been through. Everyone has a journey of their own and it just so happens that mine’s been a really tough one,” she said.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way because I don’t think I’d be where I am today without all that happening.”

She is also targeting the 200m backstroke gold, having recently set the fourth quickest time in history.