Australian Olympic Champion Kaylee McKeown Withdraws from Commonwealth Games, Pan Pacific Championships
Australian Olympic gold medalist Kaylee McKeown has medically withdrawn from the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Championships.
McKeown, who turns 25 on Wednesday, confirmed today that she has struggled with fatigue, loss of breath, and loss of appetite for several months, which was diagnosed as glandular fever.
“I am gutted to medically withdraw. What I thought a few months ago was the flu has turned out to be my body fighting glandular fever,’’ Kaylee McKeown said.
“I was sick going into Trials and I just have not got better and I am worried about pushing myself so hard that I end up with chronic fatigue.
“It was a hard decision to make but it was the right one.”
McKeown won all three backstroke events at Australian Trials and was aiming to do the same on bigger stages this year.
The coaching staff supported McKeown’s decision.
“At this point in time, Kaylee’s health is the most important thing,” Swimming Australia head coach Rohan Taylor said. “We all know how fierce and competitive she is – and she showed that by performing the way she did at Trials.
“Kaylee is a once in a generation athlete – she is what we call a racer.”
Because of that, there will be a spark missing from the international meets ahead this year.
“We are going to miss her on team not just in the pool but out of the pool with her experience and leadership but I personally feel, respect and support her decision to prioritize health,” Taylor said.
“I know after Trials she significantly modified her training program to the point of no high-intensity work and she just didn’t improve.
“We can’t wait to see her well again and back in the water competing.”
Swimming Australia will now take a 59-strong team to compete at the Games from July 23-August 2 and 43 athletes to Pan Pacs from August 12-15.
2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games Athletes
Henry Allan*
Iona Anderson
Ben Armbruster
Emily Beecroft
Victoria Belando Nicholson*
Hannah Casey
Brittany Castelluzzo
Kyle Chalmers
Jessica Cole*
Isaac Cooper
Lizzy Dekkers
Jenna Forrester
Hannah Fredericks
Jasmin Fullgrabe*
Matthew Galea*
Alyssa Gillespie*
Ben Goedemans
Jasmine Greenwood
Meg Harris
Kirralee Hayes
Timothy Hodge
Mia Hogan*
Jack Ireland
Jamie Jack*
Shayna Jack
Jenna Jones
Tara Kinder
Tiana Kritzinger
Se-Bom Lee
Bailey Lello*
Beau Matthews*
Cam McEvoy
Madeleine McTernan
Inez Miller*
Tommy Neill
Mollie O’Callaghan
Lani Pallister
Lakeisha Patterson
Col Pearse
Alexandria Perkins
William Petric
Ella Ramsay
Alex Saffy
Gemma Sellick*
Sam Short
Brendon Smith
Edward Sommerville
Flynn Southam
Zac Stubblety-Cook
Kai Taylor
Matt Temple
Liam Togher*
Sienna Toohey
Harrison Turner
Harrison Vig
Molly Walker*
Amelia Weber*
Sam Williamson
Elijah Winnington
*Dolphins debut on Australian national team.
