Cameron McEvoy Feeling No Pressure For 100 Freestyle Final (SW Radio)

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

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Cameron McEvoy is on pace to keep the men’s 100 freestyle long course world title in Australian hands later today at the FINA world championships. James Magnussen won the race in 2011 and 2013, but but had to skip the meet due to shoulder surgery. McEvoy, the top seed for tonight’s final, has had some conversations with Magnussen in the days leading up to the meet.

“I’ve spoken to him a few times,” McEvoy said. “The whole team had him on FaceTime a couple of days ago, and he wished everyone luck. I know he’ll be right behind me cheering me on tomorrow night.”

Listen To Interview On Swimming World Radio

McEvoy talked with reporters about the semifinal, in which he was the only swimmer under 48 seconds with a 47.94, saying he isn’t nervous about going in as the top seed.

“I don’t look at the race as pressure or stepping up,” he said. “I look at it as trying to get up and do what I’ve been trying to do in the past 12 months.”

He also isn’t counting out any of the other seven swimmers in the field, which includes reigning Olympic champion Nathan Adrian.

“That (48.5) is pretty much what made the final in Barcelona,” he said. “48.5 is a very good time as well. There’s .6 between myself, which was first, and 48.5, which was Nathan. That could be a bad turn or something like that, and that’s what sprinting is like. I can’t take anything for granted.”

McEvoy was nonplussed about his opening 50-meter split (22.97), and said he’ll have to be faster in the opening half in order to keep himself in gold medal position.

“I’ve been out quicker in the past,” he said. “It’s a matter of getting out in that easy speed, but under a nice composure so you don’t ball up in the last 15 meters.”

Besides Magnussen, another notable absence from the final will be Vladimir Morozov, who false started in the semifinal.

“I feel for him,” McEvoy said of Morozov. “It would be tough to go through that, to false start in the semifinal, especially in your home country when you’re one of the favorites in the race. It’s not going to be easy to recuperate, but I bet he’s going to be back even faster next year in Rio.”

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