The 2024 Olympic Games saw a historic men’s 50m freestyle final where the podium medalists’ average age was 30.
Winner Cameron McEvoy of Australia is 30, earning the nation’s first-ever gold medal in the event, while runner-up Ben Proud of Great Britain is 29 and bronze medalist Florent Manaudou of France is 33.
And age is far from putting the breaks on McEvoy’s career as the Somerville House Aquatics star is eyeing not only 2028 in Los Angeles but also 2032 in Brisbane.
“I am definitely looking toward ’28. There is a lot I want to do in between, as well,” McEvoy told The Sydney Morning Herald upon returning home from Paris.
“We have racing next year for worlds, and then [I will plan] how to get to LA in one piece and better than how I was in Paris. And do that while keeping Brisbane in mind, and hopefully get to Brisbane [in 2032] too.”
We’ve documented how McEvoy’s training regimen has been changed up from his early days, with the speedster taking up rock climbing, focusing on gaining strength in the gym and following a specific taper program.
“An American [Anthony Ervin] won the 50m free in Rio at 35 in 2016, so it is very doable,” McEvoy said. “There is a 42-year-old who won a butterfly world championship [Nicolas Santos in 2022]. So age is on my side … and it’d hard to pass that up.”
Whereas McEvoy has now publicly solidified his plan, 400m freestyle champion Ariarne Titmus is still keeping her options open in terms of appearing in L.A.
“We’ll see – I would love to get to three Olympics and going to try and defend my title in the 400m freestyle would be a massive feat,” Titmus said. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
“But it is very hard to comprehend at the moment. I am just trying to enjoy as much as I can. These moments don’t come around often, so I think I will regret it if I don’t absorb this as much as I can.”
What is of most interest to me is whether he’ll take on the 100. At the very least he can be a solid member of Australia’s relay team. Before changing his focus to the 50 along with a new training regimen, he had great endurance for a sprinter and even though he was inconsistent, he did go 1.45 in the 200 a few times. I think he has a very decent 100 in him.
His PB in the 100 is more than decent but it’s doubtful whether his training really translates to 100 now.
His fastest 100 was 8 years ago – if he’s aiming for longevity in this sport and staying at the top I see no reason to expand his focus outside the 50.
The time to try the 100 was at trials when it came after the 50. If he didn’t try it then there’s no reason to expect he’ll ever give it a shot now.