The 23-year-old enters the year with a chance to become one of Australia’s most successful Commonwealth Games athletes after becoming the first Australian swimmer to win six medals at a World Championships in 2017.  

McKeon won four gold and two bronze medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and is a chance of matching swimming legends Ian Thorpe and Susie O’Neill with a record six gold medals at the one Games.

While the Wollongong product is not purely motivated by medals, McKeon is pleased with the way her preparation for April’s Games is traveling. 

“The preparation for 2018 is going pretty good,” McKeon said. “I started back a lot earlier than I did this time last year. After the Olympics I had three months off, so I’m a lot fitter leading into this year than I was leading into 2017 trials. 

“I was really happy with how I went at World’s last year. In the 100 fly I didn’t expect to get down to that time. It opened up my eyes a bit more as to what I can do and that I can keep improving. 

“As soon as the meet was over, my coach and I worked out what I can do to improve. Knowing I’ve got a lot to work on and things to improve on is very motivating. I’m working on getting a bit stronger in the gym, that’s going to help me in the pool. Every time I race I just get a bit more experience.”

McKeon will yet again negotiate a busy program in 2018, with up to seven races on the cards. However, she’s confident she has the experience to maintain her results throughout the week. 

“I always have a big program, so I want to keep on working on being able to back up, I want to get better so the back end of the week is still as good as the front. Every year I get better, the more I do it, the better I get and the easier it gets mentally.”

While McKeon has added the 200m butterfly to her program in recent years, her focus remains on the 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle as her primary events. 

The benefits of adding the 200m butterfly were clear in Budapest when she swam over the top of Bronze medalist Kelsi Worrell in the final 50 metres to nab the silver medal and set a new Commonwealth Record.

“The 100 fly and 200 freestyle will be my main focus this year. 

“They’ll be the ones I’ll be doing every year, at Worlds and hopefully in Tokyo in 2020, they’ll be my main focus. Then with the relays, they’re always a focus as well.

“I’ve been doing the 200 fly more as training for the 100, it helps my second 50 of the 100 fly. I don’t mind doing it at state meets, it’s a good racing opportunity and it’s good for my fitness.”

The 23-year-old recently made the move to the Gold Coast after her coach Michael Bohl shifted operations from St Peters Western to Griffith University. The move means the Games are always at the forefront of her mind.

“We’re training at Griffith Uni, the Commonwealth Games village is at the uni, so I’m driving past it every day and it reminds me of what’s coming up. It’s going to be so great to have my friends and family here. They’re my biggest support and my biggest help, it will be nice to swim in front of them.”