World Aquatics Championships 2023: Cameron McEvoy crowned men's 50 free champion
The Australian veteran dominated the sprint event, touching the wall well ahead of his challengers to win his maiden gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan. Defending champ Ben Proud finished third.
Swimming
Australian veteran Cameron McEvoy crowned a spectacular season with the gold medal in the men’s 50m freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, on Saturday (25 July).
McEvoy was in imperious form in the sprint event, hitting the wall in a time of 21.06 seconds, which ranks him the fourth fastest swimmer in history.
He finished well ahead of American Jack Alexy (21.57s), with defending champion Ben Proud of Great Britain rounding out the podium in 21.58s.
The 29-year-old McEvoy came into the championships in hot form boasting a world-leading time, and continued to sizzle in the pool in Fukuoka. He qualified for the final as the fastest swimmer in the splash-and-dash events, clocking 21.25 seconds to launch him into ninth place on the world's all-time best.
The victory was not only the veteran swimmer’s first-ever gold medal at the world long-course championships, but also Australia’s first title in the event.
McEvoy, who took a break from the pool in 2022, added the individual gold to the silver he won in the 100m freestyle in Kazan in 2015. Besides these medals in individual events, McEvoy has won three silver and two bronzes in relay events since 2013.
“I was just trying to dive and not think of anything but now I need some time to process it,” McEvoy said.
“It has been a long time coming. I am just very happy to have the privilege to swim and feel like that in the water on such a gigantic stage. It’s awesome.”