Excitement has reached a fever pitch in the New South Wales hometown of Emma McKeon after she claimed her 11th medal to become Australia's most decorated Olympian.
The 27-year-old swimmer clinched back-to-back gold in the 50 metres freestyle and the 4x100 metres women's medley relay on Sunday, taking her medal count in Tokyo to seven.
Her other medals include gold in the 100 metres freestyle and 4x100 metres freestyle and bronze in the 100 metres butterfly, 4x200 metres freestyle relay and the mixed 4x100 metres medley relay.
It follows her impressive campaign at the Rio games in 2016 where she won a gold, two silver and a bronze.
Her haul in the pool has now surpassed the achievements of Leisel Jones and Ian Thorpe and sees her become the country's most successful Olympian.
On the global stage, her medal count now equals that of Russian gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya who also won seven in 1952.
"It is not something that any of us expected," Mum Susie said on Monday.
"It's one thing to have that affinity with the water and that sort of feel of the water, but it is certainly another thing to take it to any particular level and pursue it, and another level again to do what she actually achieved over the past week," she said.
Her Dad Ron agreed and put her stellar performance down to a shift her thinking after working on her mindset with a sports psychologist.
"She accepted that she needed to make some changes and embrace a mindset that is required [to win]," Mr McKeon said.
"Forget the podiums and medals, she is just a great human being," he said.
Wollongong's embracing its star
McKeon's composure, humility and super-human achievements have also captured the heart of her hometown in Wollongong, south of Sydney.
"[I] look forward to having a discussion with her as to what's appropriate, certainly a pool to inspire our future children I think would be appropriate."
There have also been multiple suggestions from residents of local landmarks that could be named in her honour.
They include renaming Wollongong 'McKeonville', dedicating lane four of the continental pool to her, erecting a water feature or a gold statue, and building a new 'Emma McKeon' aquatic centre in the city.
The McKeon Swim School has also been decorated with banners of support and businesses have taken to social media suggesting they change their name as a tribute to the local star.
"I think Emma would be absolutely humbled by that," Mr McKeon said.
