SWIMMING: Olympic champion McKeown to miss Pan Pacs, Commonwealth Games due to illness

Australian swimming star Kaylee McKeown will miss both the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships and the Commonwealth Games after withdrawing for medical reasons, citing a prolonged battle with glandular fever.

McKeown, 24, announced on Friday that she has been dealing with fatigue, shortness of breath, and a loss of appetite for several months. What she initially believed was the flu was later diagnosed as glandular fever, prompting her to prioritize her health and recovery.

"I am gutted to medically withdraw," McKeown said in a statement released by Swimming Australia. She explained that she had been ill leading into the national trials and had not fully recovered, adding that she was concerned about pushing herself too hard and risking chronic fatigue.

The Australian swimmer said the decision to withdraw was difficult but necessary as she focuses on regaining her health.

In a separate Instagram post, McKeown said her long-term goal remains the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, emphasizing that she wants to be fully recovered before returning to competition.

McKeown is one of Australia's most accomplished swimmers, holding a record 10 individual backstroke titles across the Olympic Games and the World Aquatics Championships. She is the reigning Olympic champion in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke and also holds world records in the long-course 50-meter backstroke, as well as the long-course and short-course 200-meter backstroke.

She has also won four Commonwealth Games gold medals, all earned at the 2022 Birmingham Games.

The Pan Pacific Championships are scheduled for Aug. 12–15 in Irvine, California, while the Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow from July 23 to Aug. 2. -Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus/Reuters