Kaylee's 'focus' may be key to gold, says Steph

Above: Stephanie Rice, picture courtesy of Stan Sport

Kaylee McKeown’s decision to “focus” her Olympic program may be a key factor the 200m backstroke final, says three-time gold medallist Stephanie Rice.

Speaking on Stan Sport, Rice believes McKeown, who was born and grew-up in Moreton Bay, will be fresher as she chases a double double tomorrow at 4.36am AEST.

McKeown, a former Australian Crawl swimmer at Burpengary, won the 100m and 200m backstroke in Tokyo and retained her 100m title in Paris on Wednesday.

Winning the 200m tomorrow morning would make her the first Australia to defend two titles at successive Olympic Games.

"Kaylee has made the sacrifice to purely focus on her backstroke races here in Paris,” said Rice who, like McKeown, was coached by Michael Bohl.

“She’s up against the US in Regan Smith who has kind of had the opposite approach; she’s had 200 Fly, she’s had so many different races, that as you get into it you start to get really mentally, emotionally and obviously physically fatigued.

“I think that Kaylee keeping her program smaller allows her to have a little bit more freshness so I am hoping that will serve her in the final."

The 200m backstroke is seen by many as McKeown’s stronger, of the two, but her renowned fast finish may again be the key.

​"Both girls, Kaylee and Regan have brilliant underwater, so I am really looking forward to watching them side-by-side," Rice said on Stan Sport.

“I’d love to see Kaylee do the double-double. She did the 100-200 (backstroke) gold in Tokyo and I’d love to see her do it again in Paris.

“She’s such a brilliant girl, you look at her and she’s super happy, bubbly and excited and it makes you as Aussies just want her to do well."

Before the 200m backstroke final, McKeown will start her bid for gold in the 200m individual medley tonight at 7.19pm AEST.

Sixteen years ago Stephanie Rice brought home gold from the same event in Beijing!