Emma McKeon, UNICEF Australia Ambassador
Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimmer Emma McKeon became a UNICEF Australia Ambassador in November 2022. She is Australia’s most decorated Olympian at a single Games - and the only woman in history across all sports to win seven medals at one Olympics (Tokyo 2020).
Emma is passionate about global health issues and has supported numerous UNICEF Australia campaigns, raising over $20,000 for our Ukraine Appeal and donated a signed swimming cap from the Tokyo Olympics. More recently, Emma celebrated children’s rights on World Children’s Day’s through a ‘Minute of Loudness’, and championed girls’ education on International Day of the Girl.
In 2024, Emma McKeon visited Bangladesh with UNICEF Australia. Emma found this experience eye-opening and highlighted the life-changing impact this work has on children’s lives. Emma visited a Swimsafe program, where she saw how UNICEF is working with local partners to help turn fear into lifesaving skills. Emma also visited a multi-purpose centre (MPC) in the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, to see how UNICEF provides comprehensive child protection programs that ensure children, families, and communities have access to a range of quality services.
"Swimming has always been an important part of my life - I learned at a young age, and I believe every child, no matter where they are, deserves the same opportunity I was lucky to have."
A ripple effect: Emma McKeon in Bangladesh