It is hard to believe that Emma McKeon could have been unaware of the scale of her achievement when she won her sixth Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
The 30-year-old swimmer celebrated with her teammates after winning the 4x100 metres freestyle final in an Olympic record time.
But it was not until after the race that journalists informed her that she had just become Australia's most successful Olympian.
"I never really keep track of that kind of stuff," she said.
"It was a bit of a shock when they told me."
The story is consistent with the humble character of the quietly motivated athlete who rose from obscurity to etch her name alongside her heroes in the history of Australian sport.
"You grow up and you look up to these people like Ian Thorpe and Susie O'Neill and Jodie Henry and think I want to be like them one day," McKeon said.
"When I reflect back on that time, that is what I wanted, this huge dream of mine."
Emma McKeon has won six Olympic golds, more than any other Australian. (ABC Illawarra: Tim Fernandez)
Olympic retirement
McKeon has announced that Paris will be her last Olympic games.
Returning to her hometown of Wollongong, the Olympian admitted to having a complicated relationship with the sport she dedicated her life to.
"It is a love hate relationship with a lot of it, but once it is not there you realise how good it is and you really miss it," she said.
"Even when I'm on break, I always feel like I am missing pushing myself and working towards a goal."
The daughter of successful swimmers Ron and Susie McKeon, Emma grew up in the pool.
But early on in her swimming career she decided to take a break from the sport.
Emma McKeon gave up swimming as a teenager, but missed the sense of purpose the sport provided. (Supplied)
"I stopped swimming during my teenage years and just realised that is what I missed," she said.
"I missed working hard for a goal, that brought me back."
McKeon said it took her a while to learn how to deal with the pressure of professional swimming.
“I didn’t enjoy swimming when I wasn’t dealing with my own expectations."
After narrowly missing out on the London games, McKeon made her first Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she won four medals, including her first gold.
Emma McKeon won medals at each of the Olympic games she participated in. (Reuters: Stoyan Nenov)
But it was at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 that she would capture the world's attention.
McKeon became the first female swimmer ever to win seven Olympic medals.
She set three Olympic records and a world record, on her way to four gold medals.
But it is the 100 metres freestyle victory that she regards as one of the defining moments of her career.
"That was my first individual gold at the Olympics and I had my eyes set on that for such a long time," she said.
"Being able to pull it off under such intense pressure and the pressure of having the Olympics delayed, it was the biggest build up ever for an Olympics."
Paris doubts
McKeon won four gold medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games. (Getty Images: Brendon Thorne)
Repeating her exploits at the Tokyo games was always going to be a tall order.
But her hopes of defending her medals were put in jeopardy six months out from the start of the Paris games when she suffered a muscle tear.
At the Olympic trials in June, McKeon failed to qualify for the 50 metres and 100 metres freestyle.
"It was definitely a rough couple of years leading into the trials," McKeon said.
"I experienced a lot of doubts.
"I didn't get all the events I wanted, but I am proud of myself that I kept pushing on."
Emma Mckeon, Meg Harris, Shayna Jack and Mollie O'Callaghan win the women's 4x100 metre freestyle final at Paris. (AP: Ashley Landis)
McKeon was able to put the disappointment behind her and refocus on securing relay gold.
"I'm proud I could be part of that relay team and put my best swims together."
Life after swimming
McKeon is still coming to terms with the idea that Paris was her last Olympics.
"After my last individual swim in Paris, knowing that I would not be walking out in front of an Olympic crowd on my own again was definitely an emotional thought," she said.
"It definitely has not sunk in yet."
Emma McKeon attends the opening of the McKeon promenade at North Wollongong. (ABC Illawarra: Tim Fernandez)
Her achievements have been recognised upon her return to Wollongong, with the city naming a newly built promenade after her.
A plaque on the promenade displays photos of the Olympian and claims it is a tribute "to a woman who achieved extraordinary levels of success in her sporting career, yet remains humble about her accomplishments".
McKeon was supported by her family as the plaque was unveiled.
She said she was looking forward to taking a break.
"I do not know what the future holds," she said.
"I know I am always going to need a goal to be working towards so whether that is in the pool, I am not sure."