Kaylee McKeown’s first interview since pulling out of the Commonwealth Games
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hello and welcome to Something to Talk About, the Stella podcast. I'm Sarah Lamarquand, your host, and every week I sit down with some of the biggest names in the country, because when Australia's celebrities are ready to talk, they come to Something to Talk About. Until very recently, it looked like Australia's performance in the pool at the Commonwealth Games would largely rest upon the shoulders of one woman. With Emma McKeon, Ariane Titmuss and Bronte Campbell now retired, all eyes were on five-time Olympic gold medalist Kayleigh McEwan as the New Look Dolphins team prepared to compete. And then, just days ago, came a statement. Kayleigh revealed she would be medically withdrawing from what she'd said would be her final Commonwealth Games due to a diagnosis of glandular fever.
So we tried to manage my training load. I was on my own watching the rest of my teammates do the sessions and push themselves. And it was just frustrating not being able to give myself a hundred percent. And I think at the end of the day, that's kind of what tilted me towards not going on.
Today, in her first interview since the announcement, Kayleigh opens up about the difficult decision, the overwhelming support she's received from Australians and why she's already looking ahead to LA 2028. She also reflects on the father who still inspires every race she swims, the partner who's helped her rediscover life outside the pool and the perspective that's taught her to take a moment to stand still and take it all in. Kayleigh McEwen, welcome back to the Stellar Podcast. Take two, here we go. So it is actually your first appearance on the Stellar Podcast, but of course you and I sat down, we had a conversation a few weeks ago in June, just as you were finalising your plans and preparing to head off to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games, which of course start this week.
And then... Just in the last few days, huge news, you have made the announcement that you've had to medically withdraw from the Games because you've been battling a diagnosis of glandular fever.
Look, things could definitely be worse. I'm still healthy. I've got all my limbs. I've got a working heart, so I can't really complain. It's just sad that I won't be able to compete for Australia and be at the Commonwealth Games and Pampax, you know, competing with my fellow teammates. But unfortunately, my health comes first, so this doesn't turn into something worse like chronic fatigue. But... At the same time, it's really nice being at home and just being slow for once. It's actually really made me feel calm and relaxed, which I haven't for a very long time. I get to see my puppy grow up. I don't miss six weeks of her and the weather's been really nice the past couple of days. So I can't complain.
I live in a very, very nice part of the world.
Why did Kaylee McKeown medically withdraw from the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
Kayleigh, when you and I first spoke, you did actually talk about slowing down and perspective and where you are in this chapter of your life. Of course, that timeline has very much accelerated given you are, as you say, now in that slowness. Just tell me a little bit about how long you've been grappling with the possibility that you would have to medically withdraw. And the moment that you first realised it wasn't, quote unquote, just the flu,
There was a few articles going around that had said that I had this for months, which isn't correct at all. Our trials were only just over a month ago, and that's where I was sick. I was on antibiotics at the time. Obviously, with glandular fever, that doesn't do anything, but we didn't know that I had that at the time. Um, fast forward to two weeks post our trials, I was training feeling really, really average. And I was like, Oh gosh, like this is really embarrassing. Maybe I'm just a little bit of a hole, not good timing, but, uh, a blood test later confirmed that I did in fact have glandular fever. So we tried to manage my training load, strip my sessions right back to only doing 4K, no pacing sessions, which is really hard when you're trying to get ready to go for a Commonwealth Games.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:07–2:59
2
Why did Kaylee McKeown medically withdraw from the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
2:59–17:54
3
When did Kaylee first realise her illness was more than 'just the flu'?
17:54–20:39
4
How did Kaylee and her team manage training after the glandular fever diagnosis?
20:39–31:46
5
What was the public and teammates' reaction to Kaylee's withdrawal?
31:46–33:45