Ian Thorpe has endorsed Emma McKeon as a worthy new record holder after she set a new all-time mark for Olympic gold medals won by an Australian, in any sport.

The 30-year-old McKeon produced more heroics on the biggest stage as part of Australia’s victorious women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team — one of two gold medals won by the Dolphins on the opening night of finals in Paris.

It was her sixth gold medal — adding to four from Tokyo and one at Rio 2016 — breaking the record she previously shared with Thorpe.

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“Wow. I don’t keep track of that kind of stuff. I hear it from you guys. It’s an honour really,” McKeon told Channel 9 on pool deck after the race.

Australia swam the second fastest time in history to clinch the gold ahead of the United States at the Olympics. Watched on by pop star boyfriend and fellow swimmer Cody Simpson, she clocked 52.39 seconds on the third leg.

It was Australia’s fourth straight win in the event and McKeon has been part of three of those teams.

She also added a medley relay gold and two individual titles — in the 50m and 100m freestyle — in a remarkable Tokyo 2020 campaign.

“Do you know, I actually thought it happened at the last Olympics,” Thorpe said in commentary of McKeon breaking his record.

“Now it’s very clear and Emma McKeon has one more gold medal than I do … I couldn’t think of anyone better to have that title … Couldn’t happen to a better person, really.

“But it may be a title that only (stands) for now with the other swimmers that we have coming along and what they might be able to do.”

McKeon will get a chance to add a 13th career Olympic medal of any colour on Monday morning (AEST) having also qualified seventh fastest for the 100m butterfly final.