Kaylee McKeown Biography: Siblings, Parents, Height, Age, Net Worth, Awards, Boyfriend

Kaylee Rochelle McKeown OAM is an Australian swimmer and quintuple Olympic gold medalist.

She began her swimming career young and joined the Australian Dolphins team at just 15, alongside her sister, Taylor McKeown. McKeown is the reigning Olympic champion in the 100m and 200m backstroke.

She holds world records in the long course 50m and 200m backstroke and previously held records in the 100m backstroke (long and short course) and 200m backstroke (short course).

In 2023, she was named “Best Female Swimmer of the Year” by World Aquatics after winning gold in all three backstroke events (50m, 100m, and 200m) at the World Cup series in Berlin, Athens, and Budapest.

Profile

• Full Name: Kaylee Rochelle McKeown
• Stage Name: Kaylee McKeown
• Born: July 12 2001
• Age: 23 years old
• Birthplace: Redcliffe, Australia
• Nationality: Australian
• Occupation: Australian swimmer and quintuple Olympic gold medalist
• Height: 1.75 m
• Parent: Sharon McKeown and Sholto McKeown
• Siblings: Taylor McKeown, Lachlan McKeown, and Bailey McKeown
• Boyfriend: Brendon Smith
• Children: Unknown
• Relationship: Unmarried
• Net Worth: $1 million

Early Life And Education

Kaylee Rochelle McKeown was born on July 12, 2001, in Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia, to Sharon and Sholto McKeown. Tragically, her father passed away in August 2020 after a courageous battle with grade-four glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.

McKeown is of Australian descent. She has an older sister, Taylor, who is also a talented swimmer specializing in breaststroke, and two brothers, Lachlan and Bailey. She attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Primary School in Caboolture and later continued her education at Pacific Lutheran College on the Sunshine Coast.

Career

Kaylee McKeown is a highly accomplished Australian swimmer who began her career young and quickly rose. She joined the Australian Dolphins swim team at 15 years old alongside her sister, Taylor McKeown.

Early in her career, McKeown showcased her potential, setting a World Junior Record in the 200m backstroke with a time of 2:06.76 at the 2017 World Championships, where she finished fourth. In 2018, she was impressed at the Commonwealth Games, securing fourth-place finishes in the 100m and 200m backstroke events.

That same year, McKeown earned gold in the 50m backstroke and multiple medals at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Her breakthrough came in 2019 when McKeown won silver in the 200m backstroke and claimed her first World Championship title in the 100m backstroke.

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged many athletes, but McKeown used this period to refine her skills. In late 2020, she set a new world record in the short course 200m backstroke with a time of 1:58.94, earning accolades such as Oceania Female Swimmer of the Year and Female Swimmer of the Year at the Swammy Awards.

At the Australian Olympic Trials in 2021, McKeown broke the world record in the 100m backstroke with a time of 57.45 seconds, setting the stage for her success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she won gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke events and contributed to a bronze in the mixed medley relay.

Following her Olympic success, McKeown continued to dominate the global swimming scene. In 2023, she triumphed at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup series, sweeping gold in all three backstroke events (50m, 100m, and 200m) in Berlin, Athens, and Budapest, solidifying her reputation as one of the world’s best swimmers. This achievement earned her the title of “Best Female Swimmer of the Year” by World Aquatics.

In early 2024, McKeown demonstrated her versatility by winning gold in the 200m individual medley at the Australian Olympic Trials with a personal best time of 2:06.63. As of February 2025, McKeown is a quintuple Olympic gold medalist and holds numerous world records, cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s elite athletes.

Awards and Nominations

• 2022 Australia Day Honours McKeown was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.
• 2023 Australian Institute of Sport Performance Awards Female Able-Athlete of the Year
• 2023 World Aquatics Female Athlete of the Year
• 2023 Swimming World Female Swimmer of the Year
• 2020 and 2023 SwimSwam Female Swimmer of the Year

Social Media

• Instagram handle:@kaylee_mckeown

Personal Life

Kaylee McKeown is in a relationship with fellow Australian swimmer Brendon Smith. The couple began dating in November 2021 and are preparing to represent Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics. While they keep their personal life private, there have been no reports of engagement or marriage.

Net Worth

Kaylee McKeown’s net Worth is estimated at around $1 million as of 2024. This amount reflects her earnings from prize money, sponsorships, and endorsements, which have increased significantly due to her success at major international events, including the Olympics and World Championships. McKeown has also secured sponsorship deals with prominent brands, further contributing to her financial growth.