Turning tides

During her 15-year swimming career, Australia’s most decorated Olympian, Emma McKeon, has presented a near-perfect picture of athleticism and class. As she enters retirement, the 30-year-old opens up about her internal battle while striving towards and staying at the top. As told to Remy Rippon

I nearly didn’t become an Olympic swimmer. When I was 15 years old and went from being a Wollongong schoolgirl who was good at swimming to someone who may one day represent Australia at an Olympics, I quit. In fact, I quit and returned several times. Put simply, the pressure was too much. It wasn’t from my parents, former elite swimmers who understood more than anyone the demands of competitive sport, but the unrelenting standard I put upon myself. I was a perfectionist. In my mind, near enough was never good enough. I had to be doing the best times and the best training sessions all the time. This persistence came to a head when I was 18 and I retired after missing out on a place, by just one…

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Vogue Australia (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 2025

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