“That’s so surreal. I only hear those kinds of stats from you guys [media]. I look at the athletes that have come before me and I’ve been so impressed with what they’ve done and so inspired by what they’ve done but I’ve never really been into the stats of medal counts. To be in that kind of company, it’s an honour,” Kate said in a report by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I know I’ve worked hard for it. I think that’s why it will take a little while to sink in, I’ve been forcing myself to keep my cool. I’m very proud of myself. I wouldn’t be able to do it without all the support behind me.”
To put things in perspective, no Australian has ever won 10+ Olympic medals at one Games. Only one other female athlete has ever won seven medals at one Games, Russian gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya in 1952. So yes, Emma is a big deal.
But who is the swimming superstar?
Born on May 24 1994 in Wollongong NSW, Emma was destined for sporting greatness. Both her brother David and father Ron are Olympians whilst her mother and uncle competed at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.
At her first Olympics in Rio back in 2016, Emma won gold in the Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay, silver in the Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay and Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay as well as a bronze medal in the Women’s 200m Freestyle.
She's also competed and won medals at events including the Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Gold Coast 2014 and Tokyo 2018 Pan Pacific Championships and the World Long Course Championships.
On a personal note, swimming isn't Kate's only talent.
The athlete also studied Public Health at Griffith University and has career aspirations in international aid work in the future.
A classic Aussie, Kate is also an avid beachgoer and loves reading, travelling, walking and eating Mexican food.
As for her dislikes? Spiders and early morning starts.
"Even after getting up early for like 15 years now, I'm still not a morning person!" she laughed in an interview as part of the Australian Dolphins Swim Team.
