- Historic swim positions Aussies as the GOAT
Cam McEvoy has cemented his place in swimming history, producing a jaw-dropping performance to become the fastest Australian swimmer the sport has ever seen.
The Olympic champion obliterated one of swimming’s longest-standing records, stopping the clock at 20.88 seconds in the 50m freestyle at the China Swimming Open in Shenzhen.
In doing so, he sliced 0.03 seconds off Brazilian great Cesar Cielo’s mark of 20.91, which had stood untouched since the supersuit era in 2009.
For nearly two decades, that record had resisted generations of challengers. On Friday night, McEvoy didn’t just break it – he blew it away.
‘I knew I had a chance to do a PB [personal best],’ McEvoy said after the race.
‘My old PB was 21.06, so maybe 20.99? But doing 20.88 is unreal. It’s crazy.’
Cameron McEvoy smashes long-standing 50m freestyle world record with blistering 20.88 swim at China Open in Shenzhen
The Olympic champion beats Cesar Cielo’s 2009 supersuit-era record, shaving 0.03 seconds off iconic benchmark time
The 31-year-old powered through the one-lap sprint with authority, surging clear of the field to win by a body length. American Jack Alexy finished second in 21.57, while fellow Australian Kyle Chalmers took bronze in 22.01.
The performance was as emphatic as it was historic.
For McEvoy, the moment represents the culmination of a remarkable reinvention.
Once seen as a talented but inconsistent sprinter, he has transformed his career by shifting his focus away from traditional high-volume swimming and toward strength, power and explosive speed.
‘The 50 metres, I look at it as a strength-based skill,’ he explained.
‘It’s different to the other events in swimming. A lot more strength and power is involved, and men peak in strength into their 30s – well into their 30s.’
That belief has reshaped his approach – and now, it has reshaped the record books.
Cielo, whose mark had become one of the most iconic benchmarks in swimming, was quick to acknowledge the achievement.
Achievement gains added significance as it surpasses controversial supersuit-era record under modern regulations without performance-enhancing technology
‘Congrats, Cam. Lightning fast swim! Incredible!’ he wrote on social media.
‘I saw a phrase a while ago that perfectly captures what you’ve been doing.
‘You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. Congratulations!’
The significance of McEvoy’s feat is amplified by the era in which it was achieved.
Cielo’s record came during the controversial supersuit period, when high-tech polyurethane suits contributed to a wave of world records that were later viewed through a different lens after the technology was banned.
McEvoy’s 20.88, achieved under modern regulations, stands as a pure expression of speed.
It also marks a dramatic leap forward in his own career trajectory. Just two years ago, he won Olympic gold in Paris with a time of 21.25.
He improved to 21.14 to claim the world title in Singapore – but nothing suggested a drop into the 20.8 range was imminent. Until now.
The swim not only crowns him the fastest Australian ever over 50 metres, but also positions him at the centre of a new era in sprint swimming
