West End’s Cameron McEvoy has secured his first Olympic gold medal in the men’s 50m freestyle at the Paris Games, marking a historic moment for Australian swimming—making him the first Australian man to win the shortest distance event in Olympic swimming history.
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Cameron McEvoy strikes gold
In a stunning performance, McEvoy clinched the gold medal in the 50m freestyle at the Paris Olympics with a time of 21.25 seconds, marking a historic moment in his career.
Ben Proud of Great Britain took silver at 21.30 seconds, and Florent Manaudou of France secured bronze with 21.56 seconds. Notably, defending Olympic champion Caeleb Dressel of the United States finished sixth in the event.
McEvoy’s gold—his first individual medal—comes at his fourth Olympic Games, a testament to his enduring dedication and perseverance. The 30-year-old swimmer’s journey to this victory includes overcoming disappointment at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he was favoured in the 100m freestyle but finished seventh.
After Tokyo, he recalibrated his training to focus on the 50m sprint. His efforts paid off when he won the 50m freestyle world title in 2023, setting the stage for his Olympic triumph.
McEvoy’s performance throughout the competition signalled his readiness for the gold. He placed first in the heats, finished second in the semifinals, and ultimately clinched gold in the final.
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His victory adds to Australia’s already impressive medal tally in swimming at the Paris Games, bringing their gold medal count in the pool to seven, as minutes later, Kaylee McKeown secured the women’s 200m backstroke. McEvoy’s win is particularly notable as it marks the first men’s gold for Australia in these Olympics.
Published 03-August-2024
