The Australians touched in at 3:28.92sec, ahead of the United States (3:30.20) and China (3:30.30). O'Callaghan led off to give them an immediate advantage, with McKeon splitting 52.39 on the 3rd leg and Harris brought them home with a sizzling 51.94.

It was the fourth consecutive Olympic gold Australia has won in the event, with the time second only to their own world record of 3:27.96 set last year.

"To be part of this (4x100m relay team), it's extremely hard and this is a team of six with Bronte (Campbell) and Liv (Olivia Wunsch), we couldn't do it without this group of six. Everyone wants to be part of this team. I feel really honoured to be part of it,” McKeon said with pride.

While McKeon failed to qualify for the two individual events where she is defending Olympic champion: the 50m and 100m freestyle, the 30-year-old has the chance to add the 100m butterfly and the 4x100m women’s and mixed medley relays to her collection on Sunday evening.

The Wollongong swimmer tore a muscle under her armpit late last year, which had hampered her preparations. It left just the 100m butterfly on McKeon’s individual programme, an event in which she claimed bronze three years ago, in what might be her last-ever chance for an individual Olympic medal. She announced earlier this year that Paris 2024 will be her last Olympic Games.

McKeon’s final individual appearance will not be easy. The women’s 100m butterfly field is packed with talent, including American Gretchen Walsh (who set a new world record just last month and an Olympic record in the semi-finals), 2022 world champion Torri Huske (USA), 2023 world champion Zhang Yufei (China) and defending Olympic champion Maggie Mac Neil (Canada).

The Women's 100m Butterfly Final begins at 20:40 CEST at the Paris La Defense Arena.