Cam McEvoy Rips 20.97 50 Free Commonwealth Games Record, #4 All-Time

2026 Commonwealth Games

• July 24 – 29, 2026 (pool swimming)
• Glasgow, Scotland
• Tollcross International Swimming Centre
• LCM (50m)
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  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Cameron McEvoy swam a 50 freestyle without taking a breath for the first time at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, throwing down the fourth-fastest swim in history with a Commonwealth Games record of 20.97.

He lowered the previous mark for 21.30, set by England’s Ben Proud in 2018, by 0.33 seconds. Proud won three title in a row between 2014 and 2022, with McEvoy winning silver in 2014 and bronze in 2018.

McEvoy was clearly out in front by halfway, and looked imperious as Flynn Southam, Jamie Jack, and Josh Liendo trailed in his wake. He touched just 0.09 seconds off his world record of 20.88 from the China Open, posting his second-fastest performance ever.

He now has three swims in the all-time top ten, matching Caeleb Dressel. He becomes the first man in history to break 21 seconds in the event on more than one occasion.

Men’s LCM 50 Free, All-Time Top 10 Performances

1. Cameron McEvoy (AUS), 2026 China Open – 20.88
2. Cesar Cielo (BRA), 2009 Brazilian Championships – 20.91
3. Fred Bousquet (FRA), 2009 French Championships – 20.94
4. Cameron McEvoy (AUS), 2026 Commonwealth Games – 20.97
5. Cesar Cielo (BRA), 2009 Brazilian Championships – 21.02
6. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2020(1) U.S. Olympic Trials/Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2019 World Championships – 21.04
7. –
8. Egor Kornev (RUS), 2026 Russian Championships/Cameron McEvoy (AUS), 2023 World Championships – 21.06
9. –
10. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2020(1) Olympic Games – 21.07

McEvoy topped the podium tonight to win his fourth major title in four years. He won world titles in 2023 and 2025, Olympic gold in 2024, and finally gets his individual Commonwealth title, 12 years after he won silver in this event in this pool, in a time of 22.00.

Flynn Southam set a huge lifetime best of 21.44 behind McEvoy for silver, announcing himself as a serious contender in the sprint freestyles now with times of 21.44/47.09 after his men’s 4×100 free leadoff leg on Friday. Jamie Jack made it an Australian 1-2-3 as he won bronze in 21.47, the second-fastest time of his career.

Josh Liendo was fourth in 21.55, just off his best of 21.48, as he doubled up after winning the 100 fly in a Games record of 50.42.