Kaylee McKeown has withdrawn from the Australian swimming team for the 2024 world short course championships just days after breaking a world record in her first race after the Olympics.

The 23-year-old endured a post-Paris struggle and went “stir crazy” before returning to the pool with a bang in Adelaide last week.

But the lure of gifting herself more medals as an early Christmas present has lost out to a much-needed holiday.

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McKeown has scratched the world short course championships on December 10-15 from her schedule ahead of a busy October competing in World Cup events.

“Today I made the decision to pull out of the 2024 World Short Course team, it’s not something I wanted to do but needed to do,” McKeown wrote.

“The past five-year prep has been an onslaught both physically and mentally.

“I have continuously pursued for consistency and greatness within the work I do and sometimes you just need a break. A break from the hype, the media, the adrenaline rush from competition.

“Although I will not be competing at WSC I have committed to World Cups in a few weeks. I’m looking forward to competing freely with no pressure and little work.”

McKeown’s decision was praised by fellow swimmers with Giaan Rooney among those to celebrate the decision.

Sister and Olympic medallist Taylor wrote: “You’ll feel less bad about missing SC world champs when we are surfing, diving and roaming all over Fraser Island (K’gari).”

American champion Missy Franklin said: “So proud of you for taking care of YOU!!! You’ll have the best time at World Cups.”

Another American medallist Katie Hoff wrote: “YES this makes me so happy for you. Good for you.”

Lani Pallister was disappointed to lose McKeown as a teammate for the short course championships but shared a similar sentiment.

“Brb having a breakdown but so incredibly proud of you,” she wrote.

McKeown won five medals at Paris 2024 and carried the Australian flag at the closing ceremony — then found herself twiddling her thumbs back home on the Gold Coast.

Boredom sent her back into training and she claimed a new short course world record in the 100m backstroke at the national championships in Adelaide last Thursday.

McKeown’s 54.56 seconds mark comfortably eclipsed the previous record of 54.89 seconds, set by fellow Australian Minna Atherton five years ago.

“It’s great … the Olympics has been a huge whirlwind and something I never thought I would be able to achieve,” McKeown said.

“People don’t realise just how much of a high it is and then to come back down again. It has been a struggle, and I have been pretty open with that, but I’m here swimming, so it’s making me a bit happy.

“I had some solid downtime after the Olympics and only decided to do the short course at the last minute.

“I was going a bit stir crazy, sitting at home, so decided to jump back in two and a bit weeks ago, and just increasing the sessions.

“I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but we’re doing some pretty incredible stuff at training.”

McKeown currently owns four backstroke world records: 50m (long course), 100m (short course) and 200m (short and long).

– with AAP