Cameron McEvoy sees ‘red-hot runway’ to Brisbane Games for Australia after Commonwealth domination
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- Australia is dominating swimming at the Commonwealth Games, winning 23 of 35 events, signalling a strong future for the sport.
- Cameron McEvoy sees a "red-hot runway" for their swimmers leading up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, with many young talents emerging.
- McEvoy, a world-record holder, aims to compete in his sixth Olympics and believes his recent performance shows he can still medal at the highest level.
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Australia's Cameron McEvoy in high spirits after winning the Commonwealth Games 50m freestyle final on July 26.
PHOTO: AFP
MELBOURNE – World-record holder Cameron McEvoy believes Australian swimming is gearing up for a golden era that will peak in the home pool at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, after seeing the nation’s talent on show at the Commonwealth Games.
Australia have won 23 of the first 35 swimming events in Glasgow, putting the “Dolphins” on course for their most successful Games campaign in the pool.
Olympic champion McEvoy, who won the men’s 50m freestyle in 20.97 seconds on July 26, said the team’s progression boded well not only for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but also when Brisbane plays host four years later.
“Every year as a team, we go incredibly well. I think we peak every year – and then we come back the year after and we just take one step forward,” he told the Australian media.
“So it’s a really good spot for LA, but even better for Brisbane 2032.
“Our team right now is incredible, but there are a lot of youngsters at the national age-group level, or ones who just missed this team, who will come through in their prime by Brisbane 2032.
“So the runway’s looking pretty red-hot.”
McEvoy stormed out of the blocks to add a fourth Commonwealth gold to his three relay wins, obliterating the Games record in the process, and led home an Australian 1-2-3 with Flynn Southam and Jamie Jack.
He had previously won silver in the 50m freestyle back in Glasgow in 2014, and bronze on home soil on the Gold Coast four years later.
The 32-year-old is aiming to retain his Olympic 50m freestyle title in Los Angeles and even swim at a sixth Olympics in Brisbane if able.
He said his second 50m free swim under 21sec had given him belief he could continue competing at the highest level. He remains the only swimmer to break the 21-second barrier in the post-“Supersuit” era.
“Knowing it’s not a one-off makes me very confident going into the future,” he said.
“By the time LA comes around, it's not so much about doing the best time, it’s about getting your hand on the wall first.
“But if the ceiling is high enough, I’ll have good confidence to know that I don’t have to do a superhuman performance to be in a good shot to medal or to win it.” REUTERS, AFP