Steve Larkin / AAP News
Emma McKeon says it’s mind over matter as she swims towards yet another Commonwealth Games milestone.
McKeon’s triumph in the 50m butterfly in Birmingham on Monday night is her fourth gold of the Games.
And the 17th medal in her Commonwealth Games career.
Only three athletes have won more Games medals: 18 – Australian shooter Phillip Adams, English shooter Mick Gault and South African swimmer Chad le Clos.
Le Clos will likely set a fresh benchmark on Tuesday night, fancied to claim another medal in the 100m butterfly final.
But within a couple of hours, McKeon could equal him.
The Dolphins ace is the favourite in the 100m freestyle and, in the last event of Tuesday’s program, a probable starter in the mixed 4×100 medley relay – Australia have won gold in all five relays so far in Birmingham.
McKeon’s gruelling eight-event program in Birmingham has already propelled her to most gold medals in Commonwealth history.
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She has 12, two more than Australia’s Ian Thorpe, Susie O’Neill and Leisel Jones.
“I love a challenge,” McKeon said after her 50m ‘fly victory.
“Even just having this huge workload is preparing me for Paris (2024 Olympics).”
McKeon said the preparation, while physically exhausting, was more beneficial mentally.
“It’s just training my mind really,” she said.
“It’s a hard workload physically.
“But it’s training my mind to be able to handle that many races back-to-back.
“I’m not going to have that many once I get to Paris.
“It’s just building that self-belief more and more.”
