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Cam McEvoy celebrates his 50m freestyle win.
CAMERON McEvoy has completed the first-ever sprint treble at an Australian swimming championships with a powerful victory in the 50m freestyle final in Adelaide.
The 21-year-old physics student followed up his stunning 47.04 seconds win in the 100m event and dead-heat with Thomas Fraser-Holmes in the 200m freestyle to power to victory in the one-lap dash at the Olympic trials.
McEvoy burned off his rivals, beating Matthew Abood and James Magnussen in a winning time of 21.44 seconds.
Cameron McEvoy will spearhead Australia’s Rio Olympic swimming campaign.Source:News Corp Australia
McEvoy will now have to juggle a three-pronged individual campaign at the Rio Olympics in August, while London Olympics 100m silver medallist Magnussen failed to qualify for an individual swim at this year’s Olympics.
“I was aware of that (sprint treble) and over the past two years I’ve gone close to doing that,†McEvoy said.
“It’s awesome to be a part of history in that respect.â€
Looking ahead to Rio, McEvoy said he would be focusing on all three of his individual swims but the 100m would be his main target.
McEvoy has been in sensational form at the Australian trials. He overpowered a strong field to win the 100m event in a new Commonwealth record and the year’s fastest time in the event.
It placed McEvoy a tantalising 0.13secs off Brazilian Cesar Cielo’s 2009 world record of 46.91secs, making him nominally the man to beat in Brazil.
McEvoy’s 50m swim was the second fastest in the world this year behind Olympic and world champion Florent Manaudou. McEvoy’s time would have won him silver at the 2012 London Games and last year’s world titles in Kazan.
“It’s like watching Usain Bolt in water,†Australian swimming legend Grant Hackett said of McEvoy’s technique when analysing the win on the Channel 7 commentary.
Meanwhile, Cate Campbell followed up her win over sister Bronte in the 100m freestyle with an Australian record of 23.93 in the 50m freestyle.
It was the fastest time in the world for the year
Cate Campbell was shocked by her semi-final time.Source:Getty Images
Bronte won the other semi-final in 24.27secs, setting the stage for another battle royal in Thursday’s final with her sister.
Belinda Hocking trumped world champion Emily Seebohm in the women’s 200m backstroke with the year’s fastest time of 2:06.49, just 0.10secs ahead of Seebohm.
Former world No.1 Hocking’s winning time was the fastest in the world for the year - an extraordinary achievement considering the 25-year-old had just come back from a six month sabbatical.
Belinda Hocking (right) is congratulated by Emily Seebohm.Source:Getty Images
Jess Ashwood (8:18.42) defended her 800m freestyle title, falling 0.01 short of her Australian record.
Dual world champion Mitch Larkin (24.73) claimed the 50m backstroke title.
David Morgan (51.64) won the 100m butterfly title and Georgia Bohl (30.58) the 50m breaststroke crown.
Australia’s swimming team for the Rio Olympics will be announced after Thursday’s finals.
Relive Night 7 below