Emma McKeon in heartbreaking scenes as Jessica Fox breaks through for incredible gold at Olympics

It was another golden night for Australia at the Olympics on Sunday as Jessica Fox won the K1 canoe slalom, but it was heartache for Emma McKeon after she missed out on a medal in the final individual race of her storied swimming career. McKeon is Australia's most decorated Olympic athlete and broke Ian Thorpe's record with her sixth gold medal on Saturday night.

On Sunday night she raced in the 100m butterfly final in what was the final individual event of her career. The Aussie veteran finished sixth as American Torri Huske upstaged compatriot Gretchen Walsh to steal the gold.

McKeon wasn't expected to win the 100 fly, but was an outside chance of adding another medal to her record-breaking tally. But it wasn't to be, and McKeon was overcome with emotion in a pool-side interview.

The 30-year-old wasn't upset at missing out on a medal - rather the realisation was sinking in that her individual swimming career was over. "It's just emotional," she said as she burst into tears. "I definitely hoped that would've been better but I know I've got a lot to be proud of.

"It's always going to be emotional finishing something that's brought me so much joy. So many great relationships and so many great life lessons. The week is nowhere near done, it's only day two. I feel so lucky."

McKeon still has relay swims to compete, but Sunday night was the last time she'll take to the pool in an individual event. When asked if she'd been reflecting on her incredible career yet, she said: "I probably haven't had enough time to be able to do that yet.

"As athletes we're always looking to what the next thing is, and for me I've been looking at how can I improve all the time. I am looking forward to the time when I can really look back on it all. I've got so many great people around me who have already been through the same thing."

Jessica Fox claims elusive gold medal in K1 at Olympics

The heartbreaking scenes came after Fox broke through for an elusive gold medal in the traditional K1 event. Competing in her fourth Olympics, the champion Aussie paddler found the run she needed to clinch the gold medal - which she described as a dream come true.

She won silver in the event in London in 2012 and then bronze in the last two Games. She became a canoe champion in Tokyo, but kayak gold was the one she really wanted.

"It's been years and years of chasing this dream, of getting really close, of persevering and picking myself back up, of a lot of teamwork and love and gratitude for everyone who's helped me to get here," she said with the gold medal draped around her neck. It was just the perfect day for me - it didn't start well, but it finished really well and it was just magical."

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The Aussie flag-bearer had to do it the hard way on Sunday after only qualifying for the final with the eighth-fastest time. It meant she was fifth down the course rather than last, which is reserved for the quickest qualifier in the 12-athlete field.

But she put th uncharacteristic semi-final run aside with a perfect performance in the final. Tokyo Games champion Ricarda Funk was last to compete, and when she couldn't better Fox's time the Aussie was the gold medallist.

"I just had to chill out, I watched the video for about 20 minutes and then did the Wordle of the day and tried to switch off," she said. "You never know how you're going to feel for an Olympic final, there's so much intensity and pressure."

with AAP