dailymail article says she will not be in the commonwealth games because she has glandular fever
https://www.dailymail.com/sport/olympics/article-15966825/Olympic-champion-Kaylee-McKeowns-immediate-future-doubt-shock-medical-diagnosis.htmlAussie swimming champion Kaylee McKeown has revealed she won’t be competing at the Commonwealth Games because she has contracted glandular fever.
The 24-year-old has made the announcement through a personal column in The Herald Sun.
McKeown originally believed she was fighting the flu when symptoms first presented a few months ago.
But overtime - she realised something more sinister was taking place.
‘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,’ she said.
‘But the big tell for me was this: sleeping for hours and waking up feeling like I hadn’t slept at all.’
‘I was swimming times I hadn’t seen since I was 13 and struggling with gym weights I would normally lift with ease,’ McKeown added.
The five-time Olympic gold medallist attempted to push through the pain.
McKeown thought if she showed enough tenacity, she’d emerge through the battle and be able to keep competing.
Unfortunately - the swimmer has been forced to let her body rest and stop competing for a period of time.
‘For the past few months, I have been rolling out of bed, swimming and rolling straight back into bed,’ McKeown said.
‘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.
‘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.’
McKeown won four gold and one bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
