Aussies Gear Up for More Gold in Los Angeles with Addition of Swimming Sprints to Olympic Line-up

Kaylee McKeown etched her name into Australian Olympic folklore at Paris 2024 by clinching the backstroke double for the second consecutive Games.

After showcasing her supremacy in both the 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke events in Tokyo and Paris, McKeown is poised for what could be a historic triple, with the introduction of six 50m events added to the line-up for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The addition of men’s and women’s 50m backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly events comes alongside the International Olympic Committee’s announcement of 351 medal events for 2028—22 more than those scheduled for Paris—and includes fresh mixed-gender team events in athletics, golf, artistic gymnastics, archery, coastal rowing, and table tennis.

The women’s football tournament at the Olympics will also see an increase in size, now featuring 16 teams, compared to 12 for the men’s tournament.

This change will correct the gender disparity seen at Paris 2024, which had 16 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams, influencing the qualification process for both Australia’s Matildas and Olyroos.

However, it is within the swimming pool that Australia holds the greatest potential to benefit from these changes, with the country’s elite sprinters set to make their mark in these new 50m events.

The men’s and women’s 50m backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly are entrenched in global championships and international competitions, yet they have never been featured in the Olympic Games.

This contrasts with the 50m freestyle, a thrilling event that has been part of the Olympics since its inaugural appearance in Seoul 1988.

Cameron McEvoy, 30, altered his training regimen significantly in preparation for Paris 2024, becoming the first Australian man to win gold in the event last year.

Previously, McEvoy would swim between 20-40km each week to prepare for the 50m and 100m freestyle events.

With his sights set on his fourth Olympic Games, he embraced a new strategy, incorporating rock climbing and weight training to build strength instead of spending extensive hours in the pool.

Heading into LA 2028, McKeown is a top contender for the 50m backstroke gold medal.

The nine-time Olympic medalist currently holds the world record for this event with a time of 26.86 seconds and secured gold at the 2023 World Championships in Japan.

McKeown chose not to defend her backstroke titles at last year’s world championships in Doha, directing all her focus towards the Olympic Games.

With the expanded swimming program, McKeown will also have the chance to pursue four individual gold medals across the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke, as well as the 200m individual medley.

Currently, Shane Gould remains the sole Australian to have won three individual gold medals at a single Olympic Games.

With these new additions, LA’s SoFi Stadium is set to host 41 medal events, having been adapted to serve as a swimming venue.

Australia claimed 18 gold medals in Paris, finishing fourth on the overall medal tally, trailing only the USA (40 gold), China (40), and Japan (20).

The majority of Australia’s medals were won in the pool, with a tally of seven gold, nine silver, and three bronze (19 in total), and the newly introduced events could propel the nation to its best Olympic outcomes to date.