Kaylee McKeown | Unfiltered Waters

In this episode of Unfiltered Waters, Katie Hoff Anderson welcomes back five-time Olympic gold medalist, world record holder, and world champion Kaylee McKeown for an honest conversation during one of the most challenging stretches of her career. After being diagnosed with glandular fever and withdrawing from both the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships, Kaylee opens up about just how far she still feels from 100 percent and the frustration of watching the rest of the swimming world race while she's forced to slow down.

Kaylee reflects on the pressure that comes after reaching the very top of the sport and a question few athletes openly discuss: what keeps you motivated when you've already accomplished almost everything you dreamed of? She shares the mindset she's carrying toward LA, why she's learning to compete because she wants to rather than because others expect her to, and how stepping away has changed her perspective on her body, competition, and the expectations she places on herself.

The conversation also gets deeply personal as Kaylee discusses being diagnosed with stage four endometriosis and PCOS after the Paris Olympics. She opens up about the physical and emotional toll, her desire to become a mother, and how family planning is influencing the way she thinks about LA 2028, a potential Brisbane 2032 campaign, and life beyond swimming. Katie shares perspective from her own experience with IVF and becoming a mother as the two discuss a side of women's elite sport that is rarely talked about openly.

They also dive into Kaylee's changing approach to training, learning to let go of the "more is better" mentality, keeping tabs on her competitors, and why trusting her coaches can sometimes be one of her biggest challenges. Outside the pool, Kaylee shares the story behind Lane Four, the business she's building alongside other Australian swimmers, and why preparing for life after competition has become increasingly important. Plus, there's plenty of lighter conversation about her new Bernese mountain dog, her obsession with cleaning, Australian slang, and another attempt at rapid fire after her now-infamous Fourth of July answer.

From navigating illness and Olympic expectations to fertility, motherhood, business, and rediscovering why she still wants to swim, this is a vulnerable look at what comes next for one of the most accomplished swimmers of her generation.

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