The 31-year-old from Queensland’s Gold Coast stunned both himself and the swimming world with his 20.88 performance at the China Swimming Open in Shenzhen, clipping .03 seconds off Cielo’s former World Record, which has stood since December 2009.

“I knew I had a chance to do a PB,” McEvoy told World Aquatics. “My old PB was 21.06, so maybe 20.99, but doing 20.88 is unreal. It’s crazy.

"The 50m, I look at it as a strength-based skill. It's different to the other events in swimming,” added McEvoy. "A lot more strength and power is involved, and men peak in strength into their 30s, well into their 30s."

Image Source: Kyle Chalmers of Australia and Jack Alexy of the USA congratulate Cameron McEvoy after the Men's 50m Freestyle Final during the China Swimming Open in Shenzhen, China. McEvoy won in a World Record time of 20.88. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

In Shenzhen, McEvoy finished well-clear of a world-class field that saw American Jack Alexy finish second in 21.57, and Australian Kyle Chalmers third in 22.01.

Cielo congratulated McEvoy on social media, calling it a "lightning fast swim."

Cielo achieved his time over a two-year period when swimmers set numerous records in high-tech suits utilising polyurethane materials designed to reduce friction in the water, which have since been banned in competition.

Image Source: Cameron McEvoy of Team Australia competes in the Men's 50m Freestyle Semifinals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

McEvoy had entered the meet with a long-course best of 21.06 from the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, which had left him fifth on the all-time list before Friday’s breakthrough. The 2023 and 2025 50m freestyle World Champion, McEvoy won the Paris 2024 Olympic Games 50m freestyle final in 21.25.

 

Contributing: Gregory Eggert