SHENZHEN, August 19,2011 -Susie and Ron Mckeon met at the Bucharest Universiade 30 years ago. Tonight the circle closed. 

David Mckeon, who trains under his father, won gold in the 400-meter men’s freestyle final, timed in 3:48:78. Dad watched from the side of the pool.

“I am extremely proud,” Ron Mckeon said – so proud that when David stepped onto the podium, Ron called Susie back home in Australia so she could be at the games, too.

Ron met Susie Woodhouse at the 1981 Universiade in Bucharest. Susie won the bronze medal in the 200m butterfly. Ron won -- well, Ron won Susie. They were married a few years later. (Susie would go on to win two golds at the 1983 Universiade, Ron a silver and a gold in 1987.)

Mom and Dad introduced David to the pool at an early age. But David preferred basketball. “He didn’t feel it (swimming) was for him and that was fine,” Ron Mckeon said.

It wasn’t until David Mckeon was 16  that he decided to try swimming competitively.

“To his surprise he did really well, so he started swimming again,” Ron Mckeon said.

David Mckeon said he doesn’t see his father as a coach, but rather as Dad.   

“We never take stuff home. We leave everything at the pool and when we come back, we sort it out then,” he said.

David Mckeon’s swims in Shenzhen are now done. His next order of business: training for the Australian Olympic Trials in March of 2012.