Cameron McEvoy Clocks Fastest 50 Free Time (21.85) By an Australian Since 2017

2023 Sydney Open

Three-time Australian Olympian Cameron McEvoy clocked his fastest 50-meter freestyle time since 2017 in the prelims of the 2023 Sydney Open on Friday morning.

The 28-year-old posted a 21.85 to lead the 50 free heats, which marks the fastest time by any Australian since McEvoy’s 21.81 in the semifinals of the 2017 World Championships. It was his first time going sub-22 seconds since the 2019 World Championships. His lifetime best is a 21.44 from 2016.

In other highlights from the first prelims session, 28-year-old Bronte Campbell raced in her first competition since the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and led the 50 free heats with a 24.95, just .01 seconds ahead of fellow 28-year-old Madi Wilson. Campbell’s best time is a 24.12 from the 2015 World Championships.

Wilson paced the 50 back prelims with a 28.26, less than half a second off her personal-best 27.83 from the 2015 World Championships.

In the men’s 400 free, 22-year-old Brendon Smith reached the wall in 3:53.80, just a couple tenths ahead of 27-year-old Mack Horton (3:54.06). At 19 years old, Erika Fairweather went 4:09.36 as the only woman under 4:10 during the women’s 400 free prelims.

In This Story

86
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

86 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Luigi
1 year ago

21.4 was an incredibly solid time in 2016, before the Dressel storm. I believe it was more or less what it took Tony Ervin to win gold in Rio. I didn’t know that McEvoy had been that fast in the one lapper. I too still remember his glorious 47.04 in the 100, what a swim that was!

Justhereforfun
1 year ago

I’m a sucker for smooth-looking strokes and I find myself always going back to watch the smoothest 47.0 ever done by McEvoy

commonwombat
1 year ago

Solid outing from Temple; essentially on par with his Nationals time; likewise from Pallister who has tended to be a big taper swimmer.

Actually pleasing to see McEvoy replicate from heats.

Very pleasing 50free from Harris; this race at Trials looks like it’ll be “tasty”.

Nothing spectacular in M200BK but JES inside QT and Woodward thereabouts.

M100BRS = nothing needs to be said

Was expecting a fast 200IM from McKeown and maybe a sub 2.08 but 2.07.19 was certainly a surprise. Will be very curious as to what she may produce at Trials ….. and whether she may drag Forrester well below 2.09. Some interesting questions to be posed re her Fukuoka schedule given she has now landed herself very… Read more »

Miss M
1 year ago

Hey Swimswam, pretty please can we have a finals article to comment on live tomorrow night?

Love your work!

Boomer
1 year ago

Why did Brontë scratch the final

Miss M
Reply to  Boomer
1 year ago

Friends wedding. Was only ever swimming the heat.

Mark69
Reply to  Miss M
1 year ago

The wedding of Emma McKeon’s brother

Torchbearer
Reply to  Boomer
1 year ago

She didn’t waste anytime in her comeback that has only been going a couple of months!

nuotofan
1 year ago

An European big thanks to Australian swimming fans, the best part (imo) of Swimswam (not only the Swimswam comments section).

Troyy
1 year ago

The results have been updated now: https://liveresults.swimming.org.au/nsw/2023SydneyOpen/

snailSpace
1 year ago

I don’t know how much Kaylee usually drops in taper, but since Summer’s 2:06.8 was fully tapered she could maybe even go for gold in Fukuoka.

liemse
Reply to  snailSpace
1 year ago

Will Summer even swim 200 IM at Worlds? Too close to the 400 free.

liemse
Reply to  liemse
1 year ago

The same question for Kaylee. Is she going to do the 200 IM/ 100 back double this time?

snailSpace
Reply to  liemse
1 year ago

The 100 back isn’t as taxing as the 400 free I think.

Miss M
Reply to  snailSpace
1 year ago

Kaylee is known for being fast in season, but usually drops some on a taper.

Paul
Reply to  snailSpace
1 year ago

Douglass 2.05.35

Last edited 1 year ago by Paul

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

Read More »