Tokyo Olympics | Australia’s McKeown to withdraw from 200 medley

The withdrawal could be a blow to Australia’s hopes of taking on the United States in the pool.

Australia’s world number one Kaylee McKeown will pull out of the women’s 200 metres medley at the Olympic Games over a scheduling conflict to focus on backstroke events, the national coach said on Thursday. McKeown, 20, is ranked number one in three events coming into the Tokyo competition but the medley clashed with the 100m backstroke, for which a tough competition is expected, head coach Rohan Taylor said. McKeown’s rivalry with Regan Smith is expected to figure prominently in Tokyo, after the Australian snatched Smith’s 100m backstroke world record at the Australian trials last month.