New world record fails to distract from toxic culture in swimming

Kaylee McKeown reacts after setting a new World Record in the Womens 100m Backstroke Final at the Australian Swimming Trials for Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games qualification, at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Adelaide, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AA

Kaylee McKeown reacts after setting a new World Record at the Australian Swimming Trials. Source: AAP

A world record at the Australian swimming trials just ahead of the Olympic Games hasn't been enough to drown out reports of a toxic culture in Australian swimming.


Queenslander Kaylee McKeown has set a world record in the women's 100 metre backstroke.

Her time of 57:45 beat the previous world record of 57:5 held by the United States' Regan Smith. 

It's an achievement that Australia should be celebrating.

Instead her triumph has been overshadowed by a shocking report that has exposed a toxic culture in the sport.

Former athlete Jenny McMahon won Gold in the 200-metre free relay and silver in the 200 metre free at the Commonwealth Games in 1990.

She was just 15 years-old and today she says it's the psychological trauma that she can never forget.

Ms McMahon is now pushing for the Human Rights Commission to oversee an independent review of the sport to look at the past and present, and allow for the future of the sport to ensure safety and compliance with Human Rights principles.

 

Download the free SBS Radio app to listen live and on-demand or explore podcasts.

https://podfollow.com/sbs-japanese

Visit our Facebook for more Japanese stories and images.


Share

Follow SBS Japanese

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS Japanese News

Watch it onDemand

Watch now