Cam McEvoy Equals World’s Fastest 25m Freestyle Time With Sizzling 9.36 at Short Course Sprints; Calls For Official Recognition
Australia’s two-time world and Olympic 50m freestyle champion Cam McEvoy has won the first official 25m freestyle race – equaling his own unofficial world best time of 9.36 seconds in a sizzling swim at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre – calling for World Aquatics to officially recognise the event and to be included in future World Cups.
SALUTING THE CROWD: Cam McEvoy before the 25m Freestyle ate the Swimming Australia SC Sprints Meet. Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg (Swimming Australia)
It was the first time that a 25m event had been swum at an Australian Short Course Championship Sprints Meet and given the reception and reaction the event has received – capturing the imagination of the swimming world, it won’t be the last.
The 31-year-old Queensland sprint king equalled the time he set in July before leaving for the World Championships in Singapore where he won his second 50m freestyle long course world title, 12 months after winning the prestigious Olympic gold.
There are no previously officially recorded times available to suggest that any swimmer has ever swum a time faster than 9.36 seconds for 25m freestyle.
McEvoy, who has turned freestyle sprinting on its head since unveiling his revolutionary dry-land training programs in the lead up to Paris, clocked 9.37 in this morning’s heats, improving his time by 0.01 in a spectacular exhibition of powerhouse freestyle sprinting in the hyped up final.
It now gives the four-time Olympian, the three fastest times ever recorded.
McEvoy (Somerville House, QLD), saying after the race that he “felt like a six-year-old boy swimming in his first swim meet” thanking the Melbourne crowd for their support of the event.
“I couldn’t even recollect anything that happened in that 9.36 seconds You dive, four kicks, 11 strokes ……close your eyes…and hit the wall…….” said McEvoy, who powered off the blocks in a stunning display of power swimming.
“Thanks to the crowd for your support and huge thanks to Australian head coach Rohan Taylor and Swimming Australia for getting behind this…..”
McEvoy declaring he would love World Aquatics to recognise the 25m freestyle and times across the world … and for a 25m world record to be ratified.
“That would give us something that can set a standard for us to chase and to change,” McEvoy said.
BREAKOUT: Cam McEvoy on his way to 9.36 at the MSAC. Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg (Swimming Australia)
“It could be part of World Cups … and as you can see from the buzz tonight, it brings a lot of excitement. It is an event the world can get behind – it’s unique, novel and definitely adds excitement to the sport.
“I haven’t seen that much buzz around a competition or an event, in swimming in a very long time. I just want speed. And I think the crowd loves to see speed.
“The 25m has a direct correlation, a snowball effect, to the 50m. It’s a unique opportunity for countries to get behind this and then have an event run domestically, it’s revolutionary and it’s exciting.”
Such is the interest, the 25m freestyle is certain to be included in future Australian Sprints and State Championships – thanks to the drive and determination of Cam McEvoy
Nunawading’s Callum Halloran-Lavelle finished second in 10.22 with Samuel Herraman (Southport, QLD) third in 10.35.
The corresponding women’s event went to 15-year-old Canberra girl Lily Young (Cruiz, ACT) who clocked 11.58, from Mackenzie Burns (St Andrews, QLD) 11.60 and Jodie Mead (Woy Woy, NSW) 11.71.
In other events, McEvoy’s Paris Olympic teammate Sam Short followed his 400m win from night one with another impressive personal best time of 14:25.26 to win the 1500m freestyle in the second fastest time by an Australian.
Only bettered by Australian record holder and two-time Olympic champion and former world record holder Grant Hackett’s 14:10.10, set back in 2001.
With the 100m freestyle a real ding-dong battle between two Paris Olympians, Kai Taylor (St {Peters Western QLD) edging out Matt Temple (Marion, SA) 47.31 to 47.37, James Ward (Caulfield, VIC) third in 47.89.
MIC TIME: Cam McEvoy with Matt Welsh poolside at MSAC. Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg (Swimming Australia).
While Singapore World Championship teammates Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Green Gully, SA) holding off local girl Tara Kinder (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 1:54.69 to 1:54.99 with Lucy Dring (USC Spartans, QLD) third in 1:57.57.
The 800m freestyle going to Amelie Smith (Rocky City, QLD) in 8:34.51 from Sienna Deurloo (Toowoomba Grammar, QLD) 8:44.10 and Arika Erdenko (Surrey Park, VIC) third in 8:45.28.
Results
2025 Australian Short Course Championships, MSAC, Day 2:
Women
25m freestyle
Lilly YOUNG, 25SCNATS Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg
- Lily Young (Cruz, ACT) 11.58
- Mackenzie Burns (St Andrews, QLD) 11.60
- Jodie Mead (Woy Woy, NSW) 11.71
200m freestyle
Brittany Castelluzzo 25SCNATS Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg
- Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully, SA) 1:54.69
- Tara Kinder (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 1:54.99
- Lucy Dring (USC Spartans, QLD) 1:57.57
800m freestyle
Amelie Smith Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg
- Amelie Smith (Rocky City, QLD) 8:34.51
- Sienna Deurloo (Toowoomba Grammar, QLD) 8:44.10
- Arika Erdenko (Surry Park, VIC) 8:45.28
100m Backstroke
- Mizuki Hirai (Japan) 57.66
- Semra Olowoniyi (Nunawading, VIC) 58.64
- Mackenzie Burns (St Andrews, QLD) 58.72
100m breaststroke
- Sienna Walo (Southport, SA) 1:07.06
- Tilly King (Bond, QLD) 1:07.07
- Charlotte Hansen (Logan Vikings, QLD) 1:07.87
50m butterfly
Claudia Fydler 25SCNATS Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg
- Claudia Fydler (Bond, QLD) 25.94
- Lucy Dring (USC Spartans, QLD) 26.33
- Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully, SA) 26.44
400m IM
- Amelie Smith (Rocky City, QLD) 4:36.67
- Xiandi Chua (Philippines) 4:4 3.19
- Mackenzie Wyeth (Rocky City, QLD) 4:49.30
Men
25m freestyle
Cam McEvoy 25SCNATS Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg
- Cam McEvoy (Somerville House, QLD) 9.36
- Callum Halloran-Lavelle (Nunawading, VIC) 10.22
- Samuel Herrman (Southport, QLD) 10.35
100m freestyle
Kai Taylor 25SCNATS Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg
- Kai Taylor (St Peters Western, QLD) 47.31
- Matthew Temple (Marion, SA) 47.37
- James Ward (Caulfield, VIC) 47.89
1500m freestyle
Sam Short 25SCNATS Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg
- Sam Short (Rackley, QLD) 14:25.26
- Nick Sloman (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 14:53.99
- Tommy Lane (Nunawading, VIC) 15:00.14
50m backstroke
- Callum Halloran-Lavelle (Nunawading, VIC) 24.35
- Jye Cornwell (University of QLD) 24.71
- Anthony Boussounis (Surrey Park, VIC)
50m breaststroke
- James McKechnie (Starplex, SA) 26.61
- Felix Dressel-De Bruyn (Melbourne, VIC) 27.03
- Daniel Cave (Caulfield, VIC) 27.36
200m butterfly
- Caio Gallo (Logan Vikings, QLD) 1:55.28
- Lucas Humeniuk (Logan Vikings, QLD) 1:57.42
- Leny Grigor (Somerset, Gold Coast, QLD) 1:57.42
200IM
Samuel Higgs 25SCNATS Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg
- Samuel Higgs (Warringah Aquatic, NSW) 1:56.45
- Cameron Ricchini (Miami, QLD) 1:57.74
- Thomas Hauck (All Saints, QLD) 1:57.78
Multi-Class
Women
100m MC freestyle
Jasmin Fullgrabe 25SCNATS Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg
- Jasmin Fullgrabe (Marion, SA) 1:05.27
- Taylor Corry (Purruna, SA) 1:03.04
- Mia Hogan (Corowa, NSW) 1:03.10
100m MC Backstroke
- Jasmin Fullgrabe (Marion, SA) 1:11.94
- Ikuha Nakahigashi n(Japan) 1:07.13
- Taylor Corry (Purruna, SA) 1:12.32
50m butterfly
- Taylor Corry (Purruna, SA) 30.59
- Sarah Howe (St Hildas, QLD) 32.27
- Dorothy Pasko (Hungary) 33.60
100m MC IM
- Jasmin Fullgrabe (Marion, SA) 1:16.46
- Ikuha Nakahigashi (Japan) 1:11.30
- Minam Kubo (Japan) 1:12.05
Men
100m freestyle
Jack Ireland 25SCNATS Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg
- Jack Ireland (University of QLD) 51.58
- Samuel Greatorex (Nunawading, VIC) 52.36
- Su Riley (Friends, TAS) 59.51
100m MC Backstroke
- Samuel Greatorex (Nunawading, VIC) 1:00.28
- Hamish Keenan (Melbourne Propulsion, VIC) 1:08.62
- Kelvin Tran (Oasis Otters, VIC) 1:06.85
50m MC Butterfly
- Nicholas Layton (Caulfield, VIC) 24.47
- Su Riley (Friends, TAS) 27.97
- Matthew Swinbourne (Macquarie University, NSW) 28.32
100m MC IM
Ahmed Kelly 100IM 25SCNATS Photo Courtesy Elsa Lindberg
- Ahmed Kelly (Yarra Valley, VIC) 2:16.30
- Su Riley (Friends, TAS) 1:04.99
- Ryan McGrane (Geelong, VIC) 1:12.80