SHE'S our most decorated Olympian and Wollongong's queen of the pool Emma McKeon could join our most iconic in claiming the coveted Laureus Sportswoman of the Year award.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The shortlist, released in Thursday, will see McKeon go head-to-head with recently crowned Australian Open champion Ash Barty for the gong.
Should either claim the prize, they'll become the first Australian to do so since Cathy Freeman collected the prestigious award in 2001 following her Sydney Olympics heroics.
McKeon's nomination was fait accompli following a stunning Tokyo campaign that saw her claim seven medals - four of them gold - equalling Russian gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya's record haul at the 1952 Games.
Already Australia's finest ever relay swimmer, the Tokyo campaign saw her claim breakthrough individual golds in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle.
It took her overall Olympic tally to 11, unmatched by an Australian.
Barty and McKeon face stiff competition for the award, with Tokyo triple-sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jamaica), American track legend Allyson Felix, US swimming superstar Katie Ledecky and Spain's Ballon d'Or-winning footballer Alexia Putellas all on the shortlist.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
Sign up for breaking news emails below ...
Mitch Jennings
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
