So focused on the task in the pool, the Wollongong talent didn't even realise she was on the verge of creating history until informed by the media on Saturday.

But now, McKeon will have two full weeks to do little but think about her performances in Tokyo.

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It was a week in which she became just the second woman to win seven medals at a single Games.

McKeon is now her country's most decorated Olympian with 11 medals and sits alongside Ian Thorpe as the only two Australians to win five gold medals throughout their careers.

It's a remarkable feat and one the athlete expects to hit home during a two-week stint in hotel quarantine that will start in the coming days.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet," McKeon said. "I'm guessing over quarantine it probably will. I feel like everyone else here, we've all done an amazing job, the whole team has done an amazing job.

"I'm just honoured to be part of this team, grateful to be here and grateful Japan could allow us to go after our dreams the way we did this week."

McKeon's historic performance came as the Australian swim team exceeded all expectations in Tokyo.

The Dolphins ended a run of below par performances in London and Rio to win 20 medals.

Joining McKeon in becoming Olympic champions were Kaylee McKeown, Ariarne Titmus, Zac Stubblety-Cook and the women's 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relay teams.

The nine gold medals are the most the country has won in the pool at a single Olympics and was just one less than an American squad that arrived in Tokyo expecting to dominate the swimming competition.

Australian head coach Rohan Taylor praised the work of swimmers and their individual coaches but also credited a series of so-called disruption camps for helping build a team culture.

"The whole premise was to take them out of their comfort zone and test them under pressure," Taylor said.

"We felt that would be a really good opportunity for them to bond under pressure but also learn to compete under pressure and that was something we come up with.

"I think they had a good time, we had a good time, we enjoyed it. I think it's something unique that we can do in our country.

"These guys are really good friends, they socialise quite well and any chance you get to bring them together and let them just be with each other is important."

McKeon could retire today and rank among Australia's greatest swimmers and at 27, her career has already extended well beyond many past greats.

The Wollongong star hasn't put any thought to what her future holds but she knows Olympic success won't change who she is as a person or her outlook on life.

"I don't think winning a gold medal gives you an extra bit of confidence in life," McKeon said. "It definitely gives you confidence going into your next race, but for life we are all the same people, a gold medal isn't going to change who we are.

"I think swimming and what we learn through swimming, training and competing at this level, a lot of the lessons are things we'll carry for the rest of our lives."