Paris 2024: Cameron McEvoy claims gold in 50m freestyle
Australia’s Cameron McEvoy has burst into the Olympics record books, claiming gold in the 50m freestyle at the Paris Olympics.
The 30-year-old was the equal-fastest qualifier for Saturday morning’s final, but there was no better than McEvoy in the dash for gold.
In a time of 21.25 seconds, McEvoy got the better of Great Britain’s Benjamin Proud (21.30) and local hope Florent Manadou (21.56).
The Australian was the odds-on favourite to claim gold once betting markets opened with leading sports bookmakers, and those who took the short price were never in any real danger.
McEvoy’s gold was the first time an Australian man has claimed the highest honour at these games, and for McEvoy, it is is his first individual medal at his fourth Olympics.
To add to it, the Queenslander’s victory was the first time an Australian male has medalled in the 50m freestyle at any Olympics.
The triumph marks a poignant redemption for the Aussie, who entered the Rio Olympics in 2016 as the hot favourite in the 100m freestyle but finished seventh as newcomer and fellow Australian, Kyle Chalmers, claimed victory.
After nearly quitting the sport following the Tokyo Olympics, McEvoy chose to reinvent himself, transforming his physique to focus on the 50m sprint. Now, he not only holds a world title from 2023 but has also clinched an Olympic gold medal.