- First Australian to win an Olympic medal in this event since it began in 1988
- The veteran delighted Australian swimming royalty Ian Thorpe with his victory
- Erasing the pain of missing out on medals at the Rio Olympics
Cameron McEvoy has become one of the greatest redemption stories in Olympic history, becoming the first Australian to win gold in the men’s 50m freestyle since the event was added to the Olympics in 1988.
McEvoy claimed Australia’s ninth gold medal of the Paris Games with victory at La Defense Arena on Friday night in an emotional evening in the pool.
The 30-year-old, the first Australian to swim at four Olympic Games, triumphed in 21.25 seconds in the one-lap race.
The win is McEvoy’s first Olympic gold and helps erase the disappointment of not competing at the Rio Games eight years ago.
He then arrived at the Olympics as a heavy favourite to win the 100m freestyle, but finished seventh in the final. Eight years later and in his third decade, he is finally an Olympic champion.
The win left commentator and Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe ecstatic as he repeatedly shouted “Yes!” during Nine’s coverage.
His victory helps erase the lingering disappointment he felt at the Rio Games eight years ago, when he entered the 100m freestyle medal race as a heavy favourite but finished seventh in a final won by compatriot Kyle Chalmers.
McEvoy took an extended break from swimming after the Tokyo Olympics three years ago when he became disillusioned with the sport.
But he returned to the pool with a training regimen that he himself considers revolutionary.
Cam McEvoy became the first Australian male to win gold in Paris with a comeback victory on Saturday morning after becoming disillusioned with the sport in 2021.
McEvoy (right) celebrates with Britain’s Benjamin Proud after triumphing to claim his first gold at his fourth Olympic Games, leaving Ian Thorpe ecstatic.
McEvoy, a physics student nicknamed The Professor who aspires to be an astronaut, bases his training on technical minutiae in the water.
But outside the pool, he keeps fit with activities like calisthenics and rock climbing, rather than swimming endless laps.
McEvoy gives Australia’s swimming team its sixth gold medal in Paris.
She joins Ariarne Titmus (women’s 400m freestyle), the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, Mollie O’Callaghan (women’s 200m freestyle), Kaylee McKeown (women’s 100m backstroke) and the women’s 4x200m freestyle team as winners in the French capital.
More to come…