World Aquatics Championships: Cameron McEvoy in 50m freestyle final
Some things in life you can take to the bank and when it comes to Australian swimmers stepping up on the international stage and delivering epic performances, Cameron McEvoy and Kaylee McKeown are as dependable as the sun rising tomorrow morning.
In a replica of their fantastic August night at the Paris Olympics 12 months ago, McEvoy stormed to the 50m freestyle gold medal at the world titles in Singapore and not long after McKeown charged home to win the 200m backstroke gold medal.
SWIM SPECIAL: AUSTRALIA'S GREATEST SINCE 2000 RANKED
You've just got to admire the steely resolve and excellence this duo show time after time, defending their 2023 world titles and showing that despite massive life changes after Paris their commitment to superhuman performance remains resolute.
For McEvoy he has welcomed his first child, a son Hartley, just 23 days ago with wife Madeline.
Cameron Mcevoy won the 50m freestyle final.
For McKeown she has suffered the broken heart of an ended relationship, had her coach Michael Bohl depart for China and moved back home to the comfort of family on the Sunshine Coast to push her career towards a potential Olympic three-peat in Los Angeles.
At this rate, McKeown just might become Australia's greatest ever Olympian. Already she is the first Australian to do the double-double, winning both the 100m and 200m backstroke in Tokyo and Paris. A three-peat beckons in Los Angeles in 2028.
And now she's done a world title double-double, winning the 100-200 in both Fukuoka and Singapore.
Her victory on Saturday night was classic Kaylee. Out strong and then destroy them on the final 50m to win in a championship record time of 2:03.33.
McKeown said she was thrilled with her time, especially after her recent shoulder issue and the gastro illness that has hit the Australian swim team.
'I wasn't feeling too great heading in, a bit of illness and stuff going around, dealing with a bit of a shoulder,' she said.
'I had to put my best foot forward tonight, I dug really deep, and I'm really happy with the time that I posted.
'Something I've been really working on is focusing on my own race. I think it really helped me on the outside lane (six), not seeing the other girls around me, and just really focusing on what I've been working on. I don't see a whole lot when I'm racing. I had to ask for my time at the end.'
Yet again US backstroker Regan Smith had to settle for silver in 2:04.29, no doubt cursing the fact she is confronting one of the greatest racers the world of swimming has ever seen.
Father time and fatherhood, it seems, will not stop McEvoy.
Cam McEvoy celebrates his win.
Kaylee McKeown was at her ruthless best.
The 31-year-old Olympic champion again destroyed a field containing the fastest men on water, obliterating them off the blocks and holding strong to claim his second world title.
The 50m freestyle specialist had an incredible 0.56s reaction time off the blocks and emerged ahead from the outset to race down and win in 21.14 seconds.
In the process he became Australia's oldest ever swimmer to win a world championship gold medal, eclipsing former backstroke and butterfly champion Matt Welsh in 2007.
It is the third year in a row McEvoy has been the toast of world swimming and the fastest man in the pool, with Great Britain's Ben Proud (21.26s) completing another veteran quinella just as the two elder statesmen did at the Paris Olympics last year.
For McEvoy this victory is especially sweet given the major life changes back home with the Queenslander marrying his sweetheart Madeline after the Olympics and the pair welcoming their first child, son Hartley, just 23 days ago.
'It is pretty nice, a little bit different now compared to last year, I didn't have a son last year,' McEvoy said.
'Life has changed pretty dramatically, as it does with a newborn.
'I have to shout out Maddie, I couldn't be here without her … shout out little Hartley too.
'It's a very different life now, I've got to navigate it. I will figure it out.'
US sprinter Jack Alexy completed the podium, touching third in 21.46s.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
16 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Max Gawn urges premiership winner John Longmire to take a call from Melbourne officials
Melbourne captain Max Gawn has urged prospective new coaches John Longmire and Nathan Buckley to 'take the call' from Demons officials, declaring he's moved from shocked to 'excited' about the change that is set to sweep through the club. Longmire was watching the dramatic final moments of a Test match between England and India on Monday night when informed the board had decided to sack Simon Goodwin with a year to run on his contract. Gawn labelled the move 'ballsy' and said he was right behind the decision despite teammate Ed Langdon on Wednesday suggesting he didn't agree with interim president Brad Green's declaration the players needed a 'new voice'. 'I was shocked, I didn't see it coming, and that's good management to be fair. If you did see it coming, it means things are leaking. The shock is almost a good thing,' Gawn said. 'I am a supporter of the team, a lover of the cub, they have sacked people I have loved before and I've moved on and so have they. This one is a harder one to take. 'I also have some great relationships with people who made the decision and they have explained it carefully to me why. 'Football doesn't wait for anybody. On Monday I was like 'Goodwin sacked, my life is over, I'm down in the dumps'. 'Then we trained Wednesday and I come here today and I'm like 'I can't wait for Western Bulldogs, what we do in the trade period? I can't wait to see what coach we get in'.' 'That would be my advice to all the other players and supporters. It's happened, now move on.' Gawn joked that Langdon 'butchered' his response as the first player put before media on Wednesday and having a new voice, after Goodwin spent nine years in charge, taking the Demons to the 2021 premiership, could be a good thing. 'Do we need a new voice? I appreciate after nine years a new voice could help,' Gawn told the Mick in the Morning radio show on Triple M. 'I was also pretty bullish on what we were building and the old voice was doing well for me. 'We are also 6-13. Good clubs don't wait. 'It's been 18 months of football we're not proud of. We were pretty positive we were building something good. The playing group is the culture and we are bullish still we are building something good and we're going to get someone in that will hopefully lead us the right way.' Gawn said he wouldn't 'delve into' the coach search but with only 18 jobs available, any hopefuls should pick up the call when Melbourne officials ring. 'I hope they do (take the call),' he said. 'I feel like it's a call you should take.'
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy to attend Melbourne Storm NRL match despite ongoing issues with board
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin has said she will attend Thursday night's Melbourne Storm home game despite ongoing concerns with the club's board. The Storm announced this week that an Acknowledgement of Country would be held prior to their match with the Brisbane Broncos, marking the NRL's Indigenous Round. The club also apologised to Aunty Joy for the cancellation of a Welcome to Country before to the Storm's Anzac Day match, where the Wurundjeri elder had been at the stadium to perform. Ahead of Thursday's match, Aunty Joy said she would attend in support of players, staff and community, despite a resolution not being reached with the club's board after Anzac Day. "This is about the board, not the game. This is about setting a standard not just for Melbourne Storm but across all sporting codes," Aunty Joy said. "I will always stand strong beside community and as a leader take responsibility to care for those who hurt badly." Melbourne said at the time that the club's "board had not approved for it to be held on Anzac Day". The cancellation came hours after Bunurong and Gunditjmara man Uncle Mark Brown was booed and heckled by members of the crowd at the dawn service at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance. The Storm said its decision was not related to the booing earlier in the day, but Aunty Joy said she was told it was. Aunty Joy said Wurundjeri people wanted to continue their association with the Melbourne Storm, but highlighted they "cannot safely undertake formal ceremonies" due to one board member's reported links with lobby group Advance Australia. "I carry a deep responsibility to community and will not compromise my integrity as a proud Aboriginal woman and community elder," she said. "We cannot support an organisation that has associations with any group that incites racial vilification and division. "We are willing to continue to work with Melbourne Storm to address the deep community concerns but cannot endorse any official functions or cultural work until measures are put in place to ensure cultural respect and safety for all." Wurundjeri woman and Djirri Djirri dancer Ky-Ya Nicholson was due to perform at the Anzac Day game before the Welcome to Country was cancelled. In a statement, she said Djirri Djirri would not associate with the club "until there is meaningful change at board level". "Our decision to end our long-standing relationship with Melbourne Storm comes as a result of the disrespect shown towards Aunty Joy on Anzac Day, which was a lost opportunity to honour her veteran father and First Peoples servicemen and women who fought alongside Australian soldiers," Nicholson said. "We as a community feel very disrespected by the actions of Melbourne Storm's board, as a Welcome to Country ceremony is a tradition of unity and goodwill. Which has been completely disregarded, this shows their tokenistic approach and lack of understanding to this symbol of unity."
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Jye Gray offered monster deal to join rebel R360 league in fresh blow to Rabbitohs
Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray has reportedly been offered $900,000 to join rebel rugby union competition R360 despite having played just 28 NRL games. The 21-year-old has emerged as R360's latest high profile target, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Gray is contracted with Souths until the end of 2026 but the Rabbitohs are now in a battle to retain the diminutive fullback after the bumper offer from the rebel rugby union competition. Other NRL players targeted by R360 include Ryan Papenhuyzen, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Zac Lomax and Herbie Farnworth. Gray could be a genuine chance to join R360 in 2027 given he has played rugby union before during his high school years at The Southport School on the Gold Coast. Gray, who was named NRL Rookie of the Year in 2024, has scored 11 tries in 28 games for Souths. Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett previously told Code Sports R360 is a Super League level threat that could seriously damage the NRL. R360 has reportedly acquired the necessary funding from Saudi Arabia, the UK and United States to kick-off in 2026 with aims to be profitable by 2027. 'It's a huge threat, absolutely,' Bennett said. 'The NRL is the toughest competition in the world with the best athletes. 'We are absolutely under threat. We cannot ignore it. 'I don't know how we combat it but I will say this - the game needs to come together sooner rather than later in terms of the CEOs and the game itself. 'Let's talk about what the hell is going on out there. 'Have the conversation we need to have with each other and discuss how do we stop it, what do we do? 'They will be looking at the star players like (Nathan) Cleary, Latrell (Mitchell) or Reece Walsh, they are the ones that the fans pay their money to watch. 'If we lost just 10 or 12 players like them, it will leave a massive hole in our competition. 'Look at the golf. Who would have thought LIV would be a threat but it is. The amount of money they have paid, we will never be able to match them if they (R360) are serious about the amount of money they have to spend. 'Where does this end for the NRL? 'The game has to address this and come up with a plan. 'We'd be foolish to suck our thumbs and hope to God it goes away.' Broncos great Corey Parker wrote for SEN this week: 'I'm at a point now if the R360 is taking off - and it's my belief it's going to - we have got our heads in the sand and we're not doing enough. 'The issue Wayne flagged is the player managers. So in the R360 if someone gets signed for a million dollars the R360 pays the manager 10 per cent on top. In the NRL, if a manager is on 6 per cent, the player pays that manager.' Bennett fights to avoid career low in Bunnies nightmare Gray's departure would be another blow to the Rabbitohs, who will be desperate to beat the Titans on Sunday as Wayne Bennett aims to avoid his first ever wooden spoon. This week Bennett and the Rabbitohs gave English playmaker Lewis Dodd permission to explore his options elsewhere in the NRL or overseas, less than a year after he was recruited to play halfback. Dodd has played just six NRL games in 2025, and just 68 minutes in the No. 7 jersey, despite signing a $2 million, three-year deal and a huge injury crisis at the club. On Tuesday Bennett dropped the 23-year-old to NSW Cup, instead opting for 21-year-old Ashton Ward and Jamie Humphreys in the halves. NRL 360 host Braith Anasta gave a frank assessment of the Rabbitohs' decision to sign Dodd, who won a Super League title and a World Club Challenge title with St Helens. 'It's one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history,' Anasta said on Wednesday night. 'I just can't get my head around how (CEO) Blake Solly, (football manager) Mark Ellison are the ones flying to England to sign a premier half for your club without the permission of a coach. 'Everything I have heard out of the Super League, from coaches, players over there and even recruitment back here, is that there's four or five better candidates that could be better in our game over here, in the NRL,' Anasta said. 'I think there's just some accountability that needs to be taken there.'
