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Aussie superstar Kaylee McKeown hard launches new relationship with former AFL player Declan Watson

The champion swimmer and ex-AFL player have gone public.
Declan Watson and Kaylee McKeown have gone public with their new relationship.

Aussie superstar Kaylee McKeown hard launches new relationship with former AFL player Declan Watson

The champion swimmer and ex-AFL player have gone public.

Australian superstar swimmer Kaylee McKeown and former AFL player Declan Watson have gone public with their budding relationship.

McKeown, who won another two world titles in Singapore earlier this month, is enjoying a well-deserved break after the world championships.

She shared a series of photos of her trip to Uluru, including two snaps with new boyfriend Watson.

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Watson and McKeown enjoying the stunning backdrop at Uluru.
Watson and McKeown enjoying the stunning backdrop at Uluru. Credit: Instagram

It’s unclear how long the pair have been together but it’s the first time they have posted each other on social media.

McKeown was previously in a relationship with fellow Aussie swimmer Brendan Smith. They were together for about four years but split up earlier this year.

Despite the split, the 24-year-old continued her domination in the backstroke at the world championships.

She won the 100m and 200m events, adding to her Olympic gold medals in the same events.

And she did it just weeks after suffering a dislocated shoulder.

“I have got a really flexible stroke and it’s my benefit when I swim my backstrokes,” she said.

“But sometimes it can cause me to dislocate my shoulder.

“It’s been quite irritated but I have got a good medical team and physiotherapists to help me get through.

“I’m really really proud. It’s a little bit emotional.”

McKeown now has a staggering five Olympic gold and six world championship gold medals, as well as four Commonwealth Games gold medals to undoubtedly be one Australia’s best ever swimmers.

Watson had a brief AFL career at North Melbourne but never played a game due to a series of injuries.

Taken with pick No.34 in the 2016 draft, Watson impressed in the VFL during his first season but suffered an ACL injury in 2017.

Another knee injury in 2019 ultimately ended his AFL career with the Kangaroos delisting him at the end of that season.

He has since returned home to Brisbane where he works as a lawyer.

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