Australian Olympic swimming trials live coverage: men’s 100m freestyle final

CAMERON McEvoy produced arguably the greatest 100m freestyle performance in history as James Magnussen missed an individual spot in Rio.

SWIMMING AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

JAMES Magnussen won’t get to swim the men’s 100m freestyle in Rio but the gold medal looks Australia’s to lose after Cameron McEvoy produced one of the greatest swims in history at selection trials.

McEvoy, 21, won Monday night’s final in a mind-blowing 47.04 seconds, breaking Eamon Sullivan’s Australian and Commonwealth record of 47.05 — set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in a now-banned “supersuit”.

“That’s one of the greatest swims I have ever seen,” Australian swimming legend Grant Hackett said on the Channel 7 commentary of McEvoy’s performance.

Magnussen, the London Olympic silver medallist and a two-time world champion, finished fourth in 48.68 to miss out on the top-two finish required for individual selection. The 25-year-old hasn’t been able to rediscover his best form after undergoing shoulder surgery last year.

He’ll almost certainly still make the team as a relay swimmer, with Adelaide 17-year-old Kyle Chalmers taking the other individual spot by finishing second in 48.03.

WATCH CAM McEVOY’S INCREDIBLE SWIM IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

James Magnussen after missing a spot in the top two.

“Tough race, I did everything I could physically to get back in shape,” Magnussen said.

“Obviously, I’m pretty shattered but I have just got to go home, soak that in and get ready for the 50m freestyle tomorrow.

“Those guys just raced a better race tonight and I couldn’t keep up with them and that’s how strong Australian swimming is at the moment. It’s going to be a cracking relay team for the Olympics.”

James Roberts was third in 48.32, capping an admirable return from a horrific run of injuries.

McEvoy’s swim eclipses Magnussen’s 47.10 at London Olympic trials four years ago as the fastest ever swim in a textile suit. It’s the closest anyone has come to breaking Brazilian Cesar Cielo’s world record of 46.91, set in a supersuit at the farcical 2009 world championships in Rome.

“If I’d known I was that close (to the world record) there might have been something in me that would have pushed me a bit further,” McEvoy said.

“It’s unbelievable and it puts me in a good position come Rio but in saying that the Olympics has a history of world number one’s going in first and not coming out with the gold.

“The Olympics are notorious for that because the mental games of being able to step up on the day are levels above anywhere else.

“I’m very much aware that everyone else in the world will be sitting on their couches watching this race and firing them up getting ready to get back into training at 5am just to get me. So although it’s good I can’t sit back and relax.”

Kyle Chalmers (left) and Cameron McEvoy.

Swimming Australia was reportedly contacting FINA to see if Chalmers’ time of 48.03 was a new junior world record.

“I just enjoyed the race and enjoyed the experience of racing against those guys. I had a whole lot of fun tonight,” Chalmers said.

Meanwhile, former world champion Cate Campbell defied a freak wrist injury to qualify fastest for the women’s 100m freestyle final in a scorching time.

Nursing a wrist complaint sustained while sleeping, Campbell clocked 52.41 seconds in her semi-final - her fastest time since she claimed the 2013 world title.

The time would have won London Olympic gold and pipped her younger sister Bronte for victory at the 2015 world titles in Russia.

It was just shy of her 52.33 PB.

She finished ahead of reigning world champion Bronte Campbell (52.78) who was second fastest ahead of Tuesday night’s final. Cate Campbell believed she was almost back to her best after overcoming 2015 shoulder surgery.

Cate (left) and Bronte Campbell.

“It’s the fastest since I won the world title so I am pleased but also surprised,” she said.

“But I tend to do my best swims when I surprise myself.” Meanwhile, dual world champion Mitch Larkin (one minute, 54.68) was fastest qualifier for Tuesday night’s 200m backstroke final. It was the world’s fastest time of the year.

Madeline Groves (2:05.47) won her fourth straight women’s 200m butterfly title to book a Rio berth along with 17-year-old runner-up Brianna Throssell.

World junior silver medallist Matthew Wilson (two minutes, 09.90 seconds) claimed 200m breaststroke gold but outside the Rio qualifying time.

FASTEST EVER 100m FREESTYLE SWIMS

(* denotes time set in now-banned polyurethane suit)

Cesar Cielo (Bra) 46.91*

Alain Bernard (Fra) 46.94*

Cameron McEvoy (Aus) 47.04

Eamon Sullivan (Aus) 47.05*

Cesar Cielo (Bra) 47.09*

James Magnussen (Aus) 47.10

Alain Bernard (Fra) 47.12*

Cesar Cielo (Bra) 47.13*

Relive night five of Olympic trials below

Originally published as Australian Olympic swimming trials live coverage: men’s 100m freestyle final