Swimming-McEvoy sees 'red-hot runway' to Brisbane Olympics for Australia after Commonwealth domination


Commonwealth Games 2026 - Swimming - Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - July 26, 2026 Australia's Cameron McEvoy celebrates winning the men's 50m freestyle final REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge

MELBOURNE, July 28 (Reuters) - ⁠World record holder Cameron McEvoy believes Australian swimming is gearing up for ⁠a golden era that will peak in the home pool at the ‌2032 Brisbane Olympics after seeing the nation's talent on show at the Commonwealth Games.

Australia has won 23 of the first 35 swimming events in Glasgow, putting the 'Dolphins' on course for their most successful Commonwealth Games ​campaign in the pool.

Olympic champion McEvoy, who won the ⁠men's 50 metres freestyle in 20.97 ⁠seconds on Monday, said the team's progression boded well not only for the 2028 ⁠Los ‌Angeles Olympics but also when Brisbane plays host four years later.

"Every year as a team, we go incredibly well. I think we peak every year - ⁠and then we come back the year after and ​we just take one step ‌forward," McEvoy told Australian media.

"So it's a really good spot for LA, ⁠but even better ​for Brisbane 2032.

"Our team right now is incredible, but there's a lot of youngsters at the national age-group level, or ones who just missed this team, who will come through in ⁠their prime by Brisbane 2032.

"So the runway's looking ​pretty red-hot."

The 32-year-old is aiming to defend his Olympic 50m freestyle title at Los Angeles and even swim at a sixth Olympics at Brisbane if able.

He said his second 50m ⁠freestyle swim under 21 seconds had given him belief he could continue competing at the highest level. He remains the only swimmer to break the 21-second barrier in the post-'Supersuit' era.

"Knowing it's not a one-off makes me very confident going into the future," ​he said.

"By the time LA comes around, it's not ⁠so much about doing the best time, it's about getting your hand on the wall ​first.

"But if the ceiling is high enough, I'll have ‌good confidence to know that I don't ​have to do a super-human performance to be in a good shot to medal or to win it."

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Shri Navaratnam.)

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