Cam McEvoy Takes Just 9.39 secs To Add The Wow Factor To Australia’s Duel Meet Win Over The World Team in Brisbane
It was billed as an innovative swim meet featuring some of the world’s fastest swimmers where points and not times were the key factor, but try telling that to the world’s fastest man Cam McEvoy.
The 31-year-old Olympic and two-time 50m freestyle world champion took just 9.39 seconds to add the “wow factor” in Australia’s win over The World Team in last night’s Short Course Duel Meet in Brisbane – and he couldn’t wait to look at the scoreboard.
IT’S CAM CAM: Cam McEvoy flies off the start at the Valley Pool in front of this precariously-poised poolside cameraman.Photo Courtesy Delly Carr.
Muscle man, McEvoy leading the superstar Dolphins to an exciting points victory over an equally star-studded World team 131 points to 105 – and it was the look on McEvoy’s face that will long be remembered.
Four hours of action under lights with a packed house at the iconic Valley Pool – a fun-filled, non-stop meet of fast swimming delivered with a DJ booming party vibe.
And it was the crowd favourite and new dad McEvoy, who wooed the crowd with a series of three sizzling 25m swims and ripping relay legs,
His opening individual dash in 9.39secs coming after he had already anchored the Dolphins to a thrilling come-from-behind win in the 4x50m medley relay – mowing down Dutch world champion Marrit Steenbergen.
Cam McEvoy won all six of his races and it was game on from the first event after the World team, opted to take the power play option and chase double points in the medley relay only for McEvoy to spoil the party – storming home to steal the points for Australia.
CROWDED HOUSE: The crowd loving the action at the Valley Pool. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
It set the stage for a whirlwind night in the pool – also featuring a series of Skins style 50m eliminators, mystery medleys, mystery relays, team swimming 400s, red flags and power plays.
McEvoy, looking as powerful as ever, then clocked under 10 seconds not once but three times in the 3x25m freestyle where the overall winner was declared by the average time – the perfect delivery for McEvoy’s push for the 25m to become “official.”
“I’m stoked with that (25m opener of 9.39) only 0.03 off my best (and the world’s best); I really didn’t expect it,” Cam McEvoy told Cate Campbell on the Channel Nine broadcast after his gob smacked reaction when he saw the time on the scoreboard.
And his reaction after mowing down Dutch “Steen-Train” in the Relay?
“I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best,” said McEvoy.
TO THE WINNERS THE SPOILS: Meg Harris and Shayna Jack with the victorious Dolphins. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
Not even Brisbane’s inclement summer could dampen the enthusiasm or wipe the smiles off the swimmers faces as the innovative fun-filled night rolled on with rival coaches Dean Boxall (Australia) and Peter Bishop(World) pumping the power play button – setting the scene for more to come in the 2032 Olympic city.
Organisers taking the event to another level with a combination of the original innovative Qantas Skins Meets, introduced by Swimming Australia and Channe 9 some 30 years ago and the highly successful multi-million-dollar International Swimming League Series, which captured the imagination world swimming between 2019-2021.
Other highlight’s saw Great Britain’s most successful Olympic swimmer, two-time Olympic champion and recently crowned European Short Course 200m freestyle champion, Duncan Scott show all his skill, guile and prowess to win the 50m freestyle Skins n shoot out with Aussie flyer Matt Temple.
He cheekily raised a finger to his lips to imitate the celebration of absent Australian star Kyle Chalmers, before asking “Where is he?”
US born and raised Dutch breaststroker Caspar Corbeau unleashed the power and the poise that saw him set that 200m short course world with a seemingly effortless win in the 50m breaststroke Skins.
GREAT SCOTT: Duncan Scott takes the 50m freestyle Skins. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
With Aussies Lani Pallister and Sam Short winning their respective but very tactical 400m, freestyles, Pallister just holding and Short powering past his fellow world champion and world record holder, Germany’s Lucas Martens – his nemesis in this year’s World Championship final.
Teenage Aussie backstroker Henry Allan – the 17-year-old from East Bendigo in Victoria, impressed with his baptism of fire in the Backstroke Skins – qualifying for the second round after dead-heating with none other than Italy’s Olympic champion Italy’s Thomas Ceccon.
Paris Olympic stars Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan and Meg Harris were front and centre for the Dolphins while the smiles on the faces of siblings combo, Shayna and Jamie Jack certainly left a lasting memory of enjoyment and satisfaction on a fun-filled night in the pool.
Jamie saying: “I think we’re (Shayna and I) are both excited just to be racing here and we’re together. So, it’s a very good experience and obviously the goal is Glasgow and (the Commonwealth Games), so this is kind of a warmup.”
FUN TIMES: Thomas Ceccon loving his time run Australia, wins the Skins Backstroke. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
In calling the evening a success, Dolphins head coach Rohan Taylor said: “I am hoping we can continue to create an event for athletes that drives transformation and keeps up with the changing pace of global entertainment.”
“We want to continue to give Aussie fans the chance to see our athletes entertain in home waters, as well as attract some of the best international talent to Australia – and we’ve seen some great racing tonight and had a lot of fun.
“That was the first time Shayna and Jamie have competed together on an Aussie team, and their mum and dad were here to see it.
“We had an absolute superstar in Thomas Ceccon (Italy) come out and race … and in one of those races, junior Dolphin Henry Allan hit the wall in a dead heat with him.
“Swimming is more than a sport – it is a shared experience which we will continue to support with new events that showcase new markets and new voices.”
DJ BRAEDON: Paralympian turned DJ Braedon Jason rocks the pool deck at the Valley Pool. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
ARMED AND DANGEROUS: Ben Armbruster rocks the pool, wins the Butterfly Skins. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).