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Australia’s Cameron McEvoy has won gold with an absolutely blistering swim in the 50m freestyle at the world swimming championships.
McEvoy, 29, is a three-time Olympian and has reinvented himself into a bulked up sprinting beast after making his name as the fastest Australian man to swim the 100m freestyle.
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The decision to focus on the one lap dash has proved a masterstroke, as McEvoy backed up his ominous form at the Aussie trials by smoking the field in the world championships final.
Starting from lane 4, McEvoy rocketed off the blocks and was well clear of the field at the 25m mark.
He was never challenged, touching the wall in a red hot time of 21.06, half a body length clear of America’s Jack Alexy (21.57) and Great Britain’s Ben Proud (21.58).
McEvoy’s winning time was a new personal best and also broke the Australian record held of 21.19 by Ashley Callus since 2009.
McEvoy also became the first Australian man ever to win the 50m freestyle at a world championships, acheving something Callus, Eamon Sullivan and Michael Klim were never quite able to do.
The sprinter also became Australia’s oldest individual swimming world champion at age 29.
McEvoy told Channel 9 post race: “That was incredible. To swim like, feel so nice in the water and do such a good time.
“Everything to do with why I love swimming just culimated in that one lap.”
Commenator Mat Thompson said: “Well done Cam McEvoy. This is a triumph of perserverance.
“To win by half a body length over 50m, that is staggering!”
Giaan Rooney said: “Wow, what a swim. He had it won at the 20m mark.
“His start was brilliant, he did not breathe the whole way. Really, the only thing in question was could he get the world record.”
In other events, Kaylee McKeown won the 200m backstroke in a time of 2:03.85 to complete the backstroke treble and beat her American rival Regan Smith for the third time at this meet.
Australia wrapped up Day 7 by winning gold in the 4x100m mixed freestyle relay in a world record time.
It was Mollie O’Callaghan’s fifth gold medal of the meet and Australia’s 13th overall, equalling their previous record haul of golds from the 2001 and 2005 world championships.
Australia’s best chance to break it on the final day will be with Shayna Jack in the 50m freestyle and the women’s 4x100m medley relay.
Ariarne Titmus came third in the 800m freestyle behind Katie Ledecky and China’s Li Bingjie.
It was Ledecky’s sixth 800m gold and saw her overtake Michael Phelps with the most individual golds (16) in world championship history.
Originally published as Cameron McEvoy wins blistering 50m freestyle gold at world swim champs
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