Shenzhen: Australian Olympic champion Cameron McEvoy set a new men’s 50m freestyle world record at the China Swimming Open on Friday, clocking 20.88 seconds. He broke Brazil’s César Cielo’s 2009 mark of 20.91, which had stood for 17 years.
McEvoy, the reigning Olympic and world champion, finished well clear of the USA’s Jack Alexy (21.57) and fellow Australian Kyle Chalmers (22.01). The swim adds the world record to his Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal in the event, cementing his place as the fastest man in sprint swimming.
The achievement is historic as McEvoy became the first swimmer to surpass a record set during the polyurethane bodysuit era, redefining benchmarks in the sport. Former record-holder César Cielo congratulated McEvoy, calling his swim “lightning fast” and “incredible.”
Analysts say the new benchmark could inspire a fresh wave of sprint specialists worldwide, with McEvoy’s performance marking a turning point in modern swimming history.
