Backstroke superstar McKeown keen to find happy place
McKeown did what was needed on Monday night in qualifying second fastest for the 100m backstroke final at the world swimming championships in Singapore.
Only one person was faster than McKeown in the semis - American Regan Smith.
McKeown is the two-time Olympic champion in the 100m backstroke, but it's Smith who holds the current world record after posting a time of 57.13 seconds in 2024.
That edged out McKeown's previous world record effort of 57.33.
The pair's showdown in Singapore on Tuesday night is set to be huge, but McKeown doesn't want to adopt a win-at-all-costs mentality.
"In Paris I really got consumed by the pressure and the nerves, especially the ones I put on myself," McKeown told Channel 9.
"So I've really just taken a step back and I'm just trying to enjoy swimming again.
"I love the sport and I don't want to ever lose that. So that's my focus for this week, just finding the love for it.
"I don't care if I come last (or) first. I'm just here for a good time."
Australia won two golds on the opening night after coming up trumps in the men's and women's 4x100m freestyle relays.
Bronze was Australia's only reward on Monday, with Alexandria Perkins finishing third in the women's 100m butterfly in a race that was won by star American and world record holder Gretchen Walsh.
Perkins' third-placed result was still enough for Australia to retain top spot on the medal standings with two gold, one silver and one bronze to their name.
But Canada is right on their tail after 18-year-old superstar Summer McIntosh won her second gold medal of the meet, following up her 400m freestyle success with victory in the 200m individual medley on Monday night.
McIntosh is aiming for five individual gold medals across the championships, and she'll take some beating if her early form is anything to go by.
Australian Lani Pallister will be up against American great Katie Ledecky in the women's 1500m final on Tuesday night.
Moesha Johnson, who won Olympic silver in the 10km open swim for Australia at the 2024 Games in Paris, is also in the 1500m final.
Other finals on Tuesday night include the men's 200m freestyle, men's 100m backstroke, and women's 100m breaststroke.
Queensland's Sam Short, who won silver in the 400m men's freestyle final on Sunday, will compete in the 800m freestyle heats on Tuesday.
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