Cam McEvoy says his 50m freestyle world record is just the beginning

Australian swimmer Cameron McEvoy is not resting on his laurels after setting a new 50m freestyle world record earlier this year. The 32-year-old defending Olympic champion expressed confidence that he can achieve even faster times. "I definitely think I can get faster," McEvoy stated upon his return from the China Open where he set the record.

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I definitely think I can get faster.

McEvoy's assertion comes as he prepares to compete at the Australian swimming trials. The Sydney Olympic pool, the venue for the trials, has a history of producing fast times, with 37 long-course world records set there since 1994. Notably, the men's 50m freestyle world record was broken three times at this venue in 2008 by Eamon Sullivan.

Reflecting on his record-breaking swim, McEvoy noted that "on paper, there's definitely room to improve." He is continuously refining his technique in training, viewing each season as an opportunity to explore new approaches rather than solely chasing times and medals. "So a part of the game is just rolling the dice on a new approach every season and seeing what comes with that too, which is really exciting and gives a lot more purpose than just chasing times and medals as well," he said.

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On paper, there's definitely room to improve.

The 50m freestyle world record had stood for 16 years prior to McEvoy's swim, making it one of the longest-standing records in the sport. It was a relic of the super-suit era of the late 2000s, a period of rapid technological advancement in swimsuit design. Before this era, the record had seen fewer changes, with swimmers like Matt Biondi, Tom Jager, and Alexander Popov setting marks over previous decades.

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So a part of the game is just rolling the dice on a new approach every season and seeing what comes with that too, which is really exciting and gives a lot more purpose than just chasing times and medals as well.