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Games records unexpected: swim star McKeon

Steve LarkinAAP
Emma McKeon has surprised herself with the level of her success in the Birmingham pool. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)
Camera IconEmma McKeon has surprised herself with the level of her success in the Birmingham pool. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

Emma McKeon says swimming through uncharted waters was unexpected.

McKeon exits the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with a string of high-water marks.

More career medals, 20, than any Commonwealth Games athlete.

More career gold medals, 14, than anyone.

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Equal most gold medals at a single Games, six.

Equal most medals at a single Games, eight (six gold, two silver).

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"I'm happy with the how the week went, it's more than I could have expected," McKeon said.

The feats of the Wollongong-born whiz came in an unprecedented program.

McKeon swam in eight events. And medalled in all - she also won a silver and bronze.

Sixteen races. In six days and nights.

"It has been a long week," said the naturally understated McKeon.

And this all after she was exempt from the selection trials in May and opted to give last month's world championships a miss.

The Birmingham bonanza was McKeon's first international meet since last year's Tokyo Olympics, where she became Australia's most decorated Olympian with four gold and three bronze.

And her Birmingham haul came despite being an innocent in an dry-land tabloid media furore about a supposed love triangle with her ex-flame Kyle Chalmers and her new boyfriend Cody Simpson.

So how will the Commonwealth's greatest athlete celebrate?

"I haven't thought that far ahead ... tomorrow I'm going to Italy, so that will be my celebration," she said.

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