Kaylee McKeown Withdraws from Commonwealth Games After Glandular Fever Diagnosis

Australian swimming champion Kaylee McKeown will miss the upcoming Commonwealth Games after revealing she has been diagnosed with glandular fever.

The 24-year-old confirmed the news in a personal column for The Herald Sun, explaining that months of severe fatigue and declining performance eventually forced her to step away from competition and focus on recovery.

Early Symptoms Initially Mistaken for the Flu

McKeown said she first believed she was dealing with a lingering case of the flu when symptoms began appearing several months ago.

However, as the exhaustion continued and her physical condition worsened, she realised the problem was more serious.

“The loss of breath and fatigue just after an easy warm-up, not being able to eat, feeling tired all the time, insomnia combined with napping,” McKeown wrote.

“But the big tell for me was this: sleeping for hours and waking up feeling like I hadn’t slept at all.”

The five-time Olympic gold medallist also noticed a dramatic decline in her training performances.

“I was swimming times I hadn’t seen since I was 13 and struggling with gym weights I would normally lift with ease,” she said.

McKeown Tried to Push Through the Illness

Like many elite athletes, McKeown initially attempted to continue training despite her symptoms.

She hoped determination and persistence would allow her to work through the difficult period and remain available for the Commonwealth Games.

Instead, the illness continued to affect her energy, appetite, sleep and ability to complete even routine training sessions.

“For the past few months, I have been rolling out of bed, swimming and rolling straight back into bed,” she revealed.

The Australian star has now accepted that her body needs an extended period of rest before she can safely return to full competition.

Recovery Becomes the Priority

McKeown said she does not yet know exactly when she will be ready to race again.

Her immediate focus will be on giving her body the time it needs to recover properly, rather than rushing back and risking further setbacks.

“The plan is to give my body all the rest and recovery it needs so I can come back ready and roaring for the next season of racing,” she said.

“I’m not exactly sure what that looks like for me just yet — all I know is that the return will be slow, steady and built up in small steps.”

Her comments highlight the difficult balance elite athletes face when ambition and competitive pressure collide with serious health concerns.

A Major Loss for the Australian Dolphins

McKeown’s withdrawal is a significant setback for the Australian swimming team.

She has been one of the country’s most successful swimmers of the past decade and was expected to play a major role at the Games.

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, McKeown won four gold medals and one bronze, underlining her importance to Australia’s medal campaign.

Her absence will leave a considerable gap in the Dolphins squad, particularly across the backstroke events in which she has established herself as one of the world’s leading competitors.

A Patient Road Back to Racing

Although McKeown’s diagnosis has ruled her out of the Commonwealth Games, she has made it clear that the decision is about protecting her long-term career and health.

For now, there is no firm timetable for her return.

The Olympic champion will instead concentrate on rest, gradual rehabilitation and rebuilding her strength one step at a time.

For an athlete accustomed to competing at the highest level, stepping away will not be easy. But McKeown’s decision reflects a clear understanding that recovery must now come before racing.