Kaylee McKeown Withdraws from World Cup Series

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown has withdrawn from the World Cup swimming series in China to prioritize her mental health, following her participation on day one in Shanghai. The Australian swimmer, who successfully defended her 100m and 200m backstroke titles in Paris, expressed gratitude to World Aquatics but emphasized the importance of listening to oneself as an athlete. McKeown had recently set a 100m short-course backstroke world record and was experiencing the pressures of intense competition after a demanding five years. Her decision to step back comes after also withdrawing from Australia's 2024 world short-course team, citing the need for a break. The World Cup series will continue in South Korea next weekend before heading to Singapore.