Australia has a long and glittering Olympic history. But there is one record no Australian has previously surpassed. Since the first Australians competed at the 1896 Games, none have won more than three gold medals in individual events.
Emma McKeon is Australia’s most successful Olympian by gold medals – six – but four have come as part of relay victories. Fellow swimmer Ian Thorpe has five golds to his name, three in individual events. The legendary Dawn Fraser won three swimming golds across three consecutive Olympics, plus a relay gold. Golden girl Betty Cuthbert also won three individual golds as well as a relay.
